North County Hamburgler Strikes Again: Now Linked to 82 Incidents

This map of terror shows the long reach of the North County Hamburgler (NCH) (tm), which Fairfax County police have now linked to 82 incidents following an additional rash of burglaries in Oakton and McLean over the past few days.

During the overnight hours of Tuesday, September 28 into the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 29, seven additional homes were burglarized and an attempt was made to enter one other home in the Oakton area. In six of those incidents, the suspect entered through an unlocked door or window; the other two homes were entered by prying doors open.

The McLean Police District was struck the night before. During the overnight hours of Monday, September 27 into the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 28 one home was burglarized and there were attempts to enter three other homes.

There are now currently 82 incidents related to this serial burglar. Of those, 53 are burglaries or attempted burglaries. The remaining 29 incidents are larcenies from vehicles, suspicious noises and suspicious persons. These numbers remain fluid and change daily as reports are investigated.

The suspect continues to target money, purses and small items. However, two handguns were stolen from a vehicle and police urge residents to use caution should they encounter a burglar in their home. In addition, homeowners are urged to secure their homes, particularly at night, by locking all doors, windows and garage doors. Try not to leave money, keys or purses near an entryway and do not leave valuables in an unattended vehicle, to include garage door openers.

As you can see from the map, there have been a number of cases very close to Reston proper (and in its police precinct), but none in the heart of our beige community. Perhaps the NCH (tm) prefers the awesome brick-fronted McMansions of our neighbors, or perhaps our density and general people milling about cramp his burgling style.

Fairfax Police held a community meeting in Fair Oaks yesterday, and shared a few additional details:

Incidents occur between midnight and 6 a.m. People and dogs inside the house have not been a deterrent, and there has been no face-to-face contact between the suspect and any victims.

Police think the suspect parks miles away from where the incidents occur and uses wooded areas to come to a house from the backyard. There is no vehicle information available at this time, but police encourage reports of suspcious vehicles.

Contrary to what some recent e-mails among residents have been saying, police said they have no indication the crimes are gang-related...

Eighty-five percent of the burglaries have been non-force, Lantz said. Most incidents occurred because of unlocked doors and windows.

"If you don't see us in your neighborhood, please don't think we're not there," [Capt. Ron] Lantz said. "Because what we're doing down there is we may be in the woods, we may be in trees, so you're not going to see us."

Helicopters are being used both when the suspect is being pursued after an incident is reported and as a proactive measure, so residents shouldn't be alarmed to hear the helicopters flying by, police said.

"Robble, robble, robble," the NCH (tm) did not say when not contacted for comment.