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Message from Supervisor Jeff McKay

Toward the end of summer, several complaints about graffiti came into my office, especially in the Franconia/Kingstowne and Telegraph Road area.

Graffiti is a particular concern of mine and since taking office I’ve been pushing to get a streamlined graffiti response system in place and to get public entities such as VDOT to be more proactive cleaning up their property. Also, recent changes to state law now make it possible for the County to remove graffiti from private property if the property owner does not do so.

When I heard about the recent graffiti, I met with Captain Schaible of the Franconia police station and asked her to step up police patrols in the areas that were hit. She readily agreed to do so. Many of the sites that were hit by this visual plague were public property such as utility boxes. As they do with all instances of graffiti, the police document each graffiti site, identifying the hidden messages that often indicate who is responsible. (The police tell me that most of the graffiti we see is not gang related.)

While the police have an important role to play, community action is a key element in making an area inhospitable to graffiti artists and speeding up graffiti removal. We all know that the aesthetics of a community are key factors in supporting property values, instilling community pride, and keeping crime low. When rare instances of vandalism occur we all have a responsibility to stamp them out and protect our community. Whenever—and where ever—you see graffiti, you should report it. By all means, call it in to my office but even more importantly, please take a minute and report the graffiti directly to the police non-emergency number (703-691-2131). Reporting graffiti to the non-emergency number ensures that a police officer will be quickly dispatched to the graffiti site, setting the graffiti analysis and removal process in motion.

News From Neighborhood Watch

Recent thefts in our area!

In the past week the Mount Vernon District had 30 larcenies from vehicles. Out of the 30 larcenies, 20 vehicles were left unlocked and 10 GPS were stolen along with other items. Everyone needs to remember to take items out of the vehicle when getting home. The GPS should go in the house with you when you go in. If you do not need your GPS every day then try and leave it at home. And of course remember to lock your car before going in for the evening.

Mount Vernon Police Ledger - SEPTEMBER 2009:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/newsletter/mtv/september09.pdf
Special note for this month - nearby malicious activities have recently gotten rather brazen. To wit:

• On August 8, an officer patrolling through Huntley Meadows Park around 4:28 a.m. observed a silver, four-door Honda Civic parked in the parking lot. He went to investigate and noticed a man and woman inside the car. As the officer attempted to exit his vehicle, the man jumped into the driver’s seat of the Honda, started the car and struck the officer’s vehicle. The suspect then reversed his car into the police car, striking it a second time. The officer shouted commands at the suspect to stop but the suspect struck the officer’s vehicle a third time before fleeing the area. The officer’s vehicle was disabled so he could not pursue the suspect.
• On August 12, two men attempted to rob a 56-year-old man walking in the 3300 block of Lockheed Boulevard around 12:15 a.m. When the two men approached him and demanded money, the victim refused and the suspects assaulted the victim, knocked him to the ground and fled.
• And on August 15, a 15-year-old girl was robbed in the 3500 block of Buckman Road. The victim was walking outside around 5:10 p.m. - repeat, A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL WALKING OUTSIDE AROUND 5:10 P.M. - when a man and a woman approached her. The woman demanded the victim’s purse. The victim complied and the suspects fled. In this case, an 18 year old woman from Lorton and a 19 year old man of no fixed address were arrested and transported to Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
  

So, all you walkers out there, be vigilant. And become friendly with all my "canine deputies" and their owners sharing the sidewalk with you! : )

Neighborhood Watch