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Fredericksburg Police Department makes an arrest in connection with thefts in VRE lots Date published: 11/21/2009
BY KELLY HANNON The Fredericksburg Police Department has made an arrest in connection with a rash of thefts from vehicles parked in lots near the downtown train station. Timothy Tolson, 19, of Fredericksburg was arrested and charged with 11 counts of larceny with the intent to distribute, petit larceny, obtaining money through false pretenses, and vandalism, according to Natatia Bledsoe, Police Department spokeswoman. A handful of Virginia Railway Express passengers returning to their cars on the evenings of Monday, Nov. 9, and Tuesday, Nov. 17, found their vehicle windows had been smashed and items including GPS devices were missing from their cars. Two additional suspects have been identified, Bledsoe said, but no charges have been filed yet. One suspect is a juvenile, and both are from the Fredericksburg area, she said. Police were able to recover some of the stolen goods, Bledsoe said. Virginia Railway Express sent an e-mail to passengers this week warning riders to be on guard against theft in parking lots. It advised keeping vehicles locked and putting anything of value out of sight. "Parking lots at VRE stations are not owned by VRE. VRE works with the local police departments based on availability to get police patrols. VRE does not have its own law enforcement unit. VRE does not have cameras monitoring these parking lots. Please remember parking at these locations is at your own risk," the e-mail read. Bledsoe echoed VRE's advice, saying train passengers should be careful since they are often away from their vehicles for long periods. The Police Department patrols the lots as manpower allows, she said. "We do that to the best of our ability and our resources. We have to be realistic in our capability to patrol any one area in the city above any other," Bledsoe said. One of the theft victims was VRE rider Scherry Chewning of Spotsylvania County. Her locked car had its driver-side window smashed while she was at work Nov. 9. Chewing had parked in Lot H on Prince Edward Street. Her vehicle's battery cables were severed and her GPS unit was taken, along with an iPod radio adapter and a full-size MagLite flashlight, she said. Her insurance will cover the window and the battery cables. Chewning said surveillance cameras, lighting and police patrols during the time when commuters arrive home should be added. "Anything that would make it safer," she said. Kelly Hannon: 540/374-5436
If theres any reason why VRE lots have theft, its because most people would assume the drivers will be gone all day, unlike stores where they could return at any time, plus theres less people at non-commute times, as opposed to all day for stores. Its common sense. I guess the only solution is requiring people to go to their car every half hour, right? People know the risk, if they want to do it, who are you to care.
crime happens in parking lots at Wal-Mart, at Target, at Macy's, at the grocery store, on college campuses, in neighborhoods...maybe we just shouldn't allow people to park anywhere. I mean, if folks didn't own cars, there wouldn't be crimes against them. *shrug*
Scott, The fact is that you can't dispute that crime happens in VRE lots so you go to a personal attack. The police admit they can't protect people and property in these parking lots, and VRE policy specifically states that you park there at your own risk. Crimes happen at VRE lots, period. If anyone thinks that Spotsy will be the sole exception to this... they are delusional. Wait and see....
For those who just read Blk97F150's post...
“There is no reply to the ignorant like keeping silence”
Turkish Proverb
Crime at VRE... something Spotsy has to look forward to...
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