Captain Paul Larson, Commander of the 3rd Police District, provides this monthly report via email. You can request that your address be added to the list by emailing him at plarso@arlingtonva.us, or read it on the Barcroft Chat List.

From: Paul Larson - plarso@arlingtonva.us
Sent: Tuesday, June 7, 2005
Subject: Monthly Crime Statistics

Everyone:

I am sending out the crime statistics for the month of August. I have also attached three maps in this email. The maps show the robberies, burglaries and stolen cars in August. The maps are broken down by civic association and there will be an icon indicating each of the offenses. I am sending three maps because a single map would be very confusing to read. Let me know what you think so I can determine if this is something worth continuing.

Burglaries

Robberies

Car Thefts

On to the stats:

We have noticed a pattern develop around 3000 S. Randolph St. (Shirlington) and the 4400-4500 blocks of S. 31st St. (Shirlington/Fairlington border). There has been a number of cars that have been broken into and stolen. We have been putting numerous resources into the area and we have made a few arrests, but I feel the trend will continue. We will continue our efforts.

There were two robberies at Columbia Pike and S. Four Mile Run Dr. These were the result of two drunks getting "robbed" by other drunks. A way we have come up with to end these robberies is to arrest the people for being drunk in public right away. This will get them off the street for a few hours and hopefully stop them from being a robbery victim. We have been doing it all summer and have been successful. The robbery statistics are way down, even over the summer.

With school back in session, the Police Department has been concentrating on traffic enforcement around the schools. We plan to keep it going through September and then do periodic enforcement throughout the year. I am encouraged by the responses I have been receiving about our neighborhood traffic enforcement. People have been seeing the officers in the neighborhoods enforcing the traffic laws. More importantly, the high visibility will stop some of the other crimes that may have occurred if the officers where not in the neighborhood. For those of you would who received a ticket, I would like to say I'm sorry, but I can't. People who live in the neighborhood and speed or run a stop sign are worse than the cut through drivers. You should know better.

We are gearing up for the Marine Corp Marathon that will be held on October 30th. Traffic will be extremely difficult in the morning so plan ahead.

If anyone has any questions of comments please let me know.

Thanks,

Captain Paul Larson
Third District Commander
Arlington County Police Department
1425 North Courthouse Road
Arlington, Virginia 22201
703-228-4097
plarso@arlingtonva.us

Charts and tables

For a longer perspective, here are previous crime reports. The numbers were usually worse!

This page was revised on: March 8, 2005.