Police to Hold Online Meeting with Public about Series of Burglaries

Fairfax County Police will have an online question-and-answer session at 1:30 p.m. Friday to address the public on the series of burglaries that began Aug. 24.

Police Chief Dave Rohrer and Crime Prevention Officer Patrick Lucas will answer questions during the session, which takes place here.

The public may submit questions in advance at that same address to be answered live, but questions during the hourlong session will also be answered.

"This is the first time we've used this online component to talk to the public," said Lucy Caldwell, spokeswoman for the Fairfax County Police. "This is just an additional way to reach out to the community and let them know what's going on."

Hundreds of residents attended the Sept. 29 community meeting at Waples Mill Elementary School where Fair Oaks District Station police answered questions from the public. Another community meeting with Sully District Station police took place Sept. 30.

The last publicized burglaries occurred late Sept. 30 into the early hours of Oct. 1 in the Mason District. That night three burglaries and one attempted burglary were reported. At that time, 87 incidents had been reported and linked to one suspect since Aug. 24. Fifty-seven of those incidents have been burglaries or attempted burglaries.

In one incident, two handguns were stolen from a vehicle, so police are urging caution.

In most cases, burglaries and attempts are made on houses and vehicles through unlocked doors and windows, police said.