Carjacking In Fairfax County Leads To Arrest Of Alexandria Man, Teen

WOODLAWN, VA — An Alexandria man and a teen are facing charges after a carjacking in the Woodlawn area of Fairfax County on Monday, police say.

Around 2:43 p.m. Monday, Fairfax County Police responded to the 5800 block of Saint Gregory's Lane in Woodlawn just north of Fort Belvoir. The victim was meeting a buyer to sell clothing he advertised online. Police say a second suspect approached and displayed a gun before the two suspects fled in his vehicle.

The victim tracked his vehicle using the "Find My iPhone" app. The Fairfax 1 helicopter responded and located the vehicle and suspects near the 9500 block of Burdett Road in Burke.

Police arrested Noel Isaac Sanchez, 20, of Alexandria and a 17-year-old juvenile and found a discarded gun nearby. Sanchez was charged with carjacking, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and robbery. He was held on no bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

The 17-year-old juvenile was charged with carjacking, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, underage possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with no serial number, and robbery. The teen was taken to the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center.

Fairfax County Police encouraged residents to use designated safe exchange zones to meet up for sales. Police offered the following safety tips:

• Meet in a public place: Always arrange to meet the seller/buyer in a safe, public location, such as a coffee shop, shopping center, or police station parking lot. Several Fairfax County Police district stations have safe exchange zones for online purchases. Avoid secluded areas or inviting strangers to your home.
• Bring a friend: Whenever possible, bring a friend or family member with you when meeting a seller/buyer. Having someone else present can deter potential scams or unsafe situations.
• Whenever possible, complete the transaction during daylight hours.
• Inspect the item thoroughly: Before finalizing the purchase, carefully inspect the item you’re interested in. Check to ensure that it is the item you intended to purchase.
• Trust your instincts: If the seller/buyer seems suspicious, the item appears too good to be true, or you feel uncomfortable during the transaction, trust your instincts, and consider walking away.
• Verify the seller’s identity: Before meeting, ask the seller/buyer for their name and contact information. Cross-reference this information with their social media profile or other online platforms to ensure they are who they claim to be.
• Do not share personal information: Avoid sharing personal details like your home address, phone number, or social security number. Stick to exchanging essential information related to the transaction only.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash: For more expensive items, consider using secure payment methods like PayPal or Venmo, which offer buyer protection.
• Avoid wire transfers or money orders: Be cautious of sellers who insist on wire transfers or money orders as payment methods. These methods are often associated with scams and provide little to no recourse if something goes wrong.
• Report suspicious activity: If you encounter a suspicious seller or notice any fraudulent activity on Facebook Marketplace or any platform, report it to the platform’s support or customer service immediately. This helps protect other users from potential scams.

Anyone with information about the carjacking case can contact detectives at the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 5.