Although the number of index crimes in the county is dropping each year, certain crimes are on the rise. The Reston Association Board of Directors heard from First Lt. Chris Marsh of the Fairfax County Police Department at its monthly meeting on Thursday.
Marsh, the assistant commander of the Reston District Station, said burglaries are on the rise across the county. As far as the Reston station is concerned, Marsh said 30 homes in Herndon and 10 homes in Reston were burglarized with the help of a cleaning crew in the past year. He said members of the crew would leave valuables in specific places inside the houses, unlock a window and then call their friends to tell them through which window to enter the house and where to find the valuables. "We convicted all four suspects," said Marsh.
However, the number of index crimes — crimes recorded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, such as robberies, murders and rapes — has dropped each year since 2003. Marsh said the Reston District had the second lowest number of index crimes in the county and the second lowest calls for police services. The Reston District officers recorded the lowest response time in the county. The area also had the lowest total number of traffic accidents.
As far as crime trends are concerned, Marsh warned that seven motorcycles were stolen in the Reston District since October. "[The perpetrators] are using vans or trucks," said Marsh. "They are pulling [the motorcycles] in and taking them away."
Marsh announced that the Reston District Station acquired an all-terrain vehicle, to be used to patrol many miles of trails in Reston. Also, the members of the station will be issuing orange vests to bicycle riders who ride in low light, early morning or late evening. The initiative is called Operation Pedal Safe.