Crime Report: Idling Car Stolen From Driveway, and More

There's a reason why police warn residents not to start up their cars during the winter, and leave them running in the driveway to warm up while they run back inside the house to finish getting ready. It's because it turns your car into a giant target for would-be thieves.

One Fairfax City woman learned that the hard way last week.

A woman who lives in the 3800 block of Thayer Court called police the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 8 to report that her car had been stolen from right out under her nose. She had started the car in her driveway and left it running to warm up while she went back in the house—and those 60 seconds or so was all it took.

The woman was lucky, though—vigilant City of Fairfax police officers spotted her stolen car being driven by a woman in the area shortly after.

Police stopped a 43-year-old Fairfax woman driving the stolen vehicle and placed her under arrest. She was taken to the Adult Detention Center and charged with felony unauthorized use of a vehicle, and driving without a driver's license. Her bond was set at $5,000.

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The following additional incidents were also reported by the City of Fairfax Police Department. Where arrests are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

Dec. 20 - Vandalism: An employee of a law firm in the 10300 block of Main Street reported that vandals had damaged a stop sign sometime since 6:30 p.m. the night before.

Dec. 22 - Vandalism: Just after 5 p.m., two vehicle owners in the 9700 block of Saint Andrews Drive reported that, sometime between 6 p.m. the day before and 2 p.m. that day, the tires on both of their vehicles had been slashed.

Dec. 30 - Forgery: A resident of the 10600 block of Ashby Place called police to report that he had cashed several checks presented to him by another man, only to find out later that the checks were fraudulent. As the result of an investigation by the Patrol Division, the suspect was identified and felony warrants were obtained charging him with forgery and obtaining money by false pretenses. 

Jan. 8 - Larceny: An employee of the 7-Eleven store at 3965 Jermantown Road reported that, around 6:15 p.m., a customer reached over the front counter, grabbed the employee's iPhone, and fled on foot with it.

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