Crime data for the first half of calendar year 2008 was released last month by the Fairfax County Police Department. While Fairfax remains one of the safest communities of its size in the nation, these statistics point out some emerging trends.
Larcenies are up by 15.7 percent from the same period last year, and the police department reports that GPS units continue to be one of the “hot commodities,” according to Chief David M. Rohrer. Any police officer will tell you that, even when you remove the unit so it can’t be seen, the little round smudge left by the suction cup still shows up on the windshield, advertising to thieves that there’s probably a GPS unit in the vehicle. You should hide the unit, and clean off the mark on the windshield, too!
Chief Rohrer also reports that robberies are down 25 percent (from 292 in the first half of 2007 to 218 in the first half of 2008), but that good news is offset by an 18 percent increase in aggravated assaults (174 in 2008 versus 147 in 2007). Total violent crime (murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) is down 9.6 percent; property crime (burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft) increased 13.4 percent. Bottom line? Lock your vehicles. Lock your doors. One crime prevention officer told me: if the person at the door is not someone you would welcome with a hug, keep the door locked. A screen door only keeps the bugs out; it does not provide any level of security. Pay attention to your surroundings, especially in a dimly-lit parking lot. And call the police immediately if you are a victim of a crime or if something in your neighborhood just doesn’t seem right to you. Fairfax County is safe, but we can make it safer.
One crime not included in the report is identity theft. One way to prevent identity theft is to shred any documents that contain personal information before discarding them. This Saturday, September 6, the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program, in conjunction with my office, is sponsoring a mass shredding opportunity at the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Up to five boxes of paper per resident will be accepted for shredding at no charge.
At the same time and place, Fairfax County residents (proof of residency is required) may bring their household hazardous waste for collection and recycling. Items accepted include acids, gasoline, fluorescent bulbs and CFLs, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, mercury products, oil-based paint, paint thinner, pesticides, poisons, pool chemicals, and rechargeable batteries (no automobile batteries will be accepted – take these to the I-66 Transfer Station or the 1-95 Landfill Complex). No business or commercial waste will be accepted. Because of space limitations, no computer recycling will be available.
Similar waste collection events have proven very popular, and the whole process is simple and time-efficient. Lines move quickly, and sometimes you don’t even have to get out of your car! I already have a box of old personal documents to shred, so I will look forward to seeing you on Saturday.
April 17, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Mike Levin (D-CA), and Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) were joined by 45 additional…
National Volunteer Week runs from April 20 to April 26 this year, which provides an opportunity to celebrate the importance of the role of volunteers in our community. Let me highlight one story, which seems simple on its face: it starts…
April 17, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Mike Levin (D-CA), and Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) were joined by 45 additional Members of Congress including Ranking Member of the House Science,
National Volunteer Week runs from April 20 to April 26 this year, which provides an opportunity to celebrate the importance of the role of volunteers in our community. Let me highlight one story, which seems simple on its face: it starts with a high school student who volunteered with a reading
U.S. Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr., came before the group that he was president of 45 years ago as a Falls Church businessman this Tuesday, cautioning the monthly meeting of
Donald Trump finally told the truth! In one of his rambling “lectures” – you know, the kind where he starts out focused on the topic and ends up terming Joe
Legitimate news organizations need grass roots support like never before, and that includes your Falls Church News-Press. For more than 33 years, your News-Press has kept its readers informed and enlightened. We can’t continue without the support of our readers. This means YOU! Please step up in these challenging times to support the news source you are reading right now!
A Penny for Your Thoughts: News from Greater Falls Church
Penny Gross
Crime data for the first half of calendar year 2008 was released last month by the Fairfax County Police Department. While Fairfax remains one of the safest communities of its size in the nation, these statistics point out some emerging trends.
Larcenies are up by 15.7 percent from the same period last year, and the police department reports that GPS units continue to be one of the “hot commodities,” according to Chief David M. Rohrer. Any police officer will tell you that, even when you remove the unit so it can’t be seen, the little round smudge left by the suction cup still shows up on the windshield, advertising to thieves that there’s probably a GPS unit in the vehicle. You should hide the unit, and clean off the mark on the windshield, too!
Chief Rohrer also reports that robberies are down 25 percent (from 292 in the first half of 2007 to 218 in the first half of 2008), but that good news is offset by an 18 percent increase in aggravated assaults (174 in 2008 versus 147 in 2007). Total violent crime (murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) is down 9.6 percent; property crime (burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft) increased 13.4 percent. Bottom line? Lock your vehicles. Lock your doors. One crime prevention officer told me: if the person at the door is not someone you would welcome with a hug, keep the door locked. A screen door only keeps the bugs out; it does not provide any level of security. Pay attention to your surroundings, especially in a dimly-lit parking lot. And call the police immediately if you are a victim of a crime or if something in your neighborhood just doesn’t seem right to you. Fairfax County is safe, but we can make it safer.
One crime not included in the report is identity theft. One way to prevent identity theft is to shred any documents that contain personal information before discarding them. This Saturday, September 6, the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program, in conjunction with my office, is sponsoring a mass shredding opportunity at the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Up to five boxes of paper per resident will be accepted for shredding at no charge.
At the same time and place, Fairfax County residents (proof of residency is required) may bring their household hazardous waste for collection and recycling. Items accepted include acids, gasoline, fluorescent bulbs and CFLs, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, mercury products, oil-based paint, paint thinner, pesticides, poisons, pool chemicals, and rechargeable batteries (no automobile batteries will be accepted – take these to the I-66 Transfer Station or the 1-95 Landfill Complex). No business or commercial waste will be accepted. Because of space limitations, no computer recycling will be available.
Similar waste collection events have proven very popular, and the whole process is simple and time-efficient. Lines move quickly, and sometimes you don’t even have to get out of your car! I already have a box of old personal documents to shred, so I will look forward to seeing you on Saturday.
Recent News
House Democrats Seek Immediate Termination of DOGE's Unauthorized Use of AI Systems, Call Out Security Risks and Potential Criminal Liability
Our Man In Arlington 4-17-2025
Beyer Warns of Trump Policy Impacts on Region, U.S. & World
Stories that may interest you
House Democrats Seek Immediate Termination of DOGE’s Unauthorized Use of AI Systems, Call Out Security Risks and Potential Criminal Liability
April 17, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Mike Levin (D-CA), and Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) were joined by 45 additional Members of Congress including Ranking Member of the House Science,
Our Man In Arlington 4-17-2025
National Volunteer Week runs from April 20 to April 26 this year, which provides an opportunity to celebrate the importance of the role of volunteers in our community. Let me highlight one story, which seems simple on its face: it starts with a high school student who volunteered with a reading
Beyer Warns of Trump Policy Impacts on Region, U.S. & World
U.S. Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr., came before the group that he was president of 45 years ago as a Falls Church businessman this Tuesday, cautioning the monthly meeting of
A Penny for Your Thoughts 4-17-2025
Donald Trump finally told the truth! In one of his rambling “lectures” – you know, the kind where he starts out focused on the topic and ends up terming Joe