Tanglewood Security Update
Since my last email 3 more members have informed me about unauthorized car entries and a car theft on Abbotsford (a 4th member posted about a car entry on NextDoor). A laptop was found discarded at the Riviera Park entrance and it has been turned over to the police (are you the owner?).
I had hoped that the first 2 incidents were isolated mischief but now we have an escalation to grand larceny. The car was located in DC and I want to thank the owner for giving me the case number. With that and addresses for other occurrences, I called the police for help for us and for us to maybe help them connect the dots.
Please be aware that I have requested and been promised a special neighborhood patrol from the Fairfax County Police Department. I was informed that many neighborhoods in our county are experiencing the same problem. Of course, the first advice they offered was a reminder to keep your car and home doors locked. Please call the police first if you see or experience suspicious activity. You, our members, are our neighborhood watch. We don’t have a formal program now because it is a community, not police, program. Please let me know! We hope the thieves will be caught but most likely they will move to the next neighborhood and we can let down our guard but for now, please be extra vigilant.
I also want to send out a special alert regarding repeated coyote sightings in a particular area. A member has seen a coyote emerging from the park near the intersection of Corsica and Riviera, regularly, between 8-9 am and moving toward the Riviera cul-de-sac. He even sighted the coyote with his large catch wandering in that direction in the middle of the street after the storm today. If you have small pets in that area, please be especially aware if they are off-leash. Coyotes will avoid humans but are canny enough to “case” the neighborhood and wait for opportunity, just like the guys who are getting into the cars.
Cindy Crist
TCA President
president@tcavienna.org