<b>Police Make Arrests at Montgomery Mall
</b>On Aug. 5, Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Fraud Section – Retail Theft Unit arrested two people who they say are professional boosters/shoplifters at Montgomery Mall.
Detectives from the unit received information that two sets of people were operating in the mall located at 7101 Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda — targeting high-end retail stores such as “Express,” “J. Crew,” and “Arden B.”
Detectives observed the two groups and say that they repeatedly entered the stores and concealed merchandise and then went to their cars and unloaded their bags. Officers from the 2nd District responded to the mall, and assisted detectives in stopping one of the cars. Detectives searched the car and recovered approximately $4,500 in stolen merchandise, and a Nine West shoulder bag which police say was rigged to conceal the property and temporally disable the store’s security system.
Detectives arrested Francisco Pinto a 27-year-old male from the 100 block of West Chester Avenue in Port Chester, N.Y. Pinto was charged with three counts of theft over $500, and conspiracy to commit theft over $500. Pinto is being held at the Montgomery County Detention Center on $50,000 bond. Also arrested was Erika Astrid Sierramoreno a 31-year-old female, of no fixed address in the state of New York. Sierramoreno was charged with three counts of theft over $500, conspiracy to commit theft over $500, and possession of an electronic theft device. Sierramoreno is being held in the Montgomery County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond, and a detainer from Immigration and and Customs Enforcement.
<b>Volunteers Sought for New Canal Boat
</b>Before the end of August, a new canal boat, the Charles F. Mercer, is scheduled to be delivered to the C&O Canal near Great Falls Tavern. The National Park Service is looking for volunteers to help operate the boat, which will be drawn by mules and take visitors through the canal between Great Falls Tavern and Swains Lock. Volunteers must be able to lift, push or pull 100 pounds, and must be available for a minimum of one day every two weeks. To volunteer or for more information, call Bill Justice at 301-714-2214, or Warren Kasper at 301-767-3714.
<b>Potomac Community Center Closed</b>
The Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac will be closed Aug. 6–20 for general cleaning and maintenance. If you would like to reach someone in the Recreation Department Office, call 240-777-6900. Their office hours are Mon.-Fri., from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Potomac Community Center will reopen on Aug. 21.
<b>Triathletes Make Wishes Come True
</b>The Make-A-Wish Triathlon at Sea Colony is a swim-bike-run competition for up to 1,000 athletes at Sea Colony Resort, Bethany Beach, Del. on Sunday, Sept. 24. This USA Triathlon-sanctioned event features an ocean swim, scenic bike ride and exciting along the beach. The event concludes with a family-style picnic and awards ceremony at the waterfront in Bethany Beach.
For more information, please visit midatlantic.wish.org or call Stephanie Holland at 301-962-9474.
<b>Corrections
</b>* The Almanac artice “One Night, 11 Thefts” incorrectly stated that Logan Drive, Falls Bridge Lane, Conestoga Way and Bronson Drive are in the Avenel neighborhood.
*The Calendar in the Aug. 9 Potomac Almanac listed the wrong location for the pet photography. It was held at on Aug. 12 at Lisa Solomon’s Studio at 612 Hillsboro Drive in Silver Spring.