Since January 31 there have been elevent incidents at two gas stations on New Hampshire Avenue on the border of Takoma Park and Washington, D.C. There were eight theft from autos, three auto thefts and one commercial armed robbery. Takoma Park Police have charged four suspects involved in several of those incidents at both the Sunoco in the 6300 block of New Hampshire Avenue and the W Express on New Hampshire Avenue.
But a recent stolen auto from the Sunoco Gas Station in the 6300 block of
New Hampshire Avenue has renewed concern, according to Takoma Park Police Chief Ronald Ricucci.
"The police department has taken a strong approach to combating these types of incidents, such as conducting numerous plainclothes and uniformed officer details, media coverage, community advisory notifications, social network announcements, shared information with allied agencies who are experiencing the same types of incidents and have posted signs and flyers at the pumps to alert/remind citizens to lock their vehicles, remove keys and don't leave their items laying out on the seat in plain view for suspects to steal," Ricucci said in a statement.
As result of the latest auto theft, the department will initiate another plainclothes detail in the area to attempt to catch suspects committing the crimes, Ricucci said.
