During last week’s Citizens Advisory Committee meeting, Sully District Station commander Capt. Rachel Levy told residents what’s been happening lately in their area. 

“We’re still plagued with larcenies from vehicles,” she said last Wednesday, Feb. 8. “Thieves are stealing valuables left in cars in plain sight or taking them from unlocked vehicles.” Also warning people not to leave their keys in their cars, she told them, “A new car with the keys inside was stolen this morning. Luckily, we were able to recover it nearby.”

Meanwhile, in Centreville’s Crofton Commons community, said Levy, there’s recently been a series of vehicle fires in the Flamborough Road area. She said they’re being investigated by the Fairfax County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Regarding incidents that fall under the domain of the Sully District police, she said residents here are in good hands. “The officers know people in this district so well that, when a crime happens, they often know who did it and can quickly make an arrest,” said Levy. She said this was the case, for example, after a recent burglary of a laundromat where the suspect broke in and stole coins from the machines there.

MPO Sabrina Ruck, the station’s crime prevention officer, also noted that “A catalytic-converter thief was arrested the other night, thanks to an alert member of the community. This person called us right away, and the thief was caught with several catalytic converters in his truck.”

Ruck then advised residents about two, upcoming events for their benefit:

Car Seat Inspections, Feb. 23

Parents may get their children’s car seats inspected on Thursday, Feb. 23, from 5-8:30 p.m., outside the Sully District Police Station. It’s at 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Inspections are done on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants should install the child safety seat, themselves, so the inspection can be performed. The seat will be properly re-installed, if necessary, and parents will be taught how to install the seat properly, in the future. Everyone is eligible. Another car-seat inspection is scheduled for March 9, at the same place and time.

Catalytic Converter Etching, Feb. 25

Because of the continuing problem of thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles, G & C Tire and Auto Service will hold another free etching event. It’s slated for Saturday, Feb. 25, from 10 a.m.-noon, at 14008 Willard Road in Chantilly. G&C will apply anti-theft labels to people’s catalytic converters. These ultra-destruct labels are laser cut with a unique code and the URL of a secure, accredited database – the International Security Register (ISR). 

They’ll break into pieces if an attempt is made to remove them. And a fluid that etches into metal is applied to the labels so that, even if they are removed, the code and URL will remain clearly readable. This service will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis; no appointments are necessary.