T.J. MAXX shoplifting attempt goes sideways in Germantown

An alleged attempt to steal merchandise from T.J. MAXX in Germantown went sideways on February 4, 2026, according to Montgomery County police. The male suspect attempted to leave the store at the Milestone Shopping Center with merchandise he hadn't paid for, police say, but was taken into custody by an officer. He was found to also be in possession of a loaded firearm.

Ian Morgan, 21, of Germantown, has been charged with theft, obstruction, loaded handgun on person, possession of an unregistered rifle/shotgun, and possession of an assault weapon with the intent to sell it. He is being held without bond pending a March trial.

Pickpocket strikes at gym in Gaithersburg

Watch your wallet while working out in Gaithersburg! Gaithersburg City police were called to a fitness center in the 10100 block of Washingtonian Boulevard at 9:24 PM Saturday night, after someone's wallet was allegedly pilfered by a pickpocket. Police have not yet identified the gym, but Life Time is located at 10121 Washingtonian Boulevard.

Thief tries to use credit cards stolen from vehicle in Gaithersburg

Montgomery County police were called after credit cards were stolen from a vehicle in Gaithersburg early Saturday afternoon, August 23, 2025. The cards were taken from inside a car parked in the 9400 block of Stewartown Road. Whoever stole the cards then attempted to use one of them at a hardware store. 

Assault at Montgomery Village grocery store

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an assault at a supermarket in Montgomery Village Wednesday morning, October 30, 2024. The assault was reported at a grocery store in the 20000 block of Goshen Road at 7:06 AM Wednesday. There is a Giant store on that block. An individual was also accused of shoplifting in the same incident.

Walmart thief had concealed weapon, police say after Germantown arrest

An alleged thief inside the Walmart Supercenter at 20910 Frederick Road at the Milestone Shopping Center in Germantown was packing heat, Montgomery County police say. The suspect entered the store at 6:03 PM on October 8, 2024, and allegedly took merchandise. Daryl Howard, 44, of Gaithersburg was arrested, and officers allegedly found he was carrying a weapon.

Howard has been charged with multiple firearms charges, two of which are felonies. He has also been charged with resisting arrest, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, illegal possession of ammunition, theft, malicious destruction of property, disorderly conduct, failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order, and obstructing and hindering an officer. According to Maryland court records, Howard is being held without bond.

Shoplifting incident leads to cocaine bust in Germantown

A shoplifting incident turned into a drug bust when Montgomery County police arrived at a clothing store in Germantown on Monday afternoon, October 14, 2024. Police were called to the store, which appeared to have been at the Milestone Shopping Center, at 3:50 PM Monday. The suspect in the theft attempt was found to be in possession of cocaine.

ATM stolen from Germantown gas station

Montgomery County police are investigating the theft of an ATM machine from a gas station in Germantown on September 23, 2024. One or more burglars forced their way into the station building at 5:19 AM, ripped out an ATM machine, and fled. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s) at this time. If you have any information about this incident, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Montgomery Village man arrested for Wheaton auto theft

Montgomery County police have arrested a Montgomery Village man they say stole a vehicle in the Connecticut Avenue Estates neighborhood in Wheaton earlier this month. The car was stolen from a home in the 12200 block of Berry Street over the night between August 4 and August 5, 2024. Police say the vehicle was left unlocked. The car has since been recovered.

Herson Rosales, 34, has been charged with felony unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, felony theft, misdemeanor unauthorized removal of a motor vehicle, and misdemeanor possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Court records indicate he remains held without bond. A trial has been scheduled for September 23 in Montgomery County District Court in Silver Spring.

Montgomery County police arrest suspect in thefts from vehicles in Germantown

Montgomery County police have arrested a suspect they say was responsible for some of the thefts from vehicles between June 8 and June 14, 2024 in Germantown. Rami Moussa, 21, of Clarksburg is accused of thefts in the 19700 block of Germantown Road during that time period. Moussa has been charged with 3 counts of rogue and vagabond, 6 counts of attempted rogue and vagabond, two thefts of credit cards, and possession of burglary tools. He was ordered held without bond by Judge Eric John Nee. A trial is scheduled for August 1 in Montgomery County District Court in Rockville.

Burglars steal motorcycle from Gaithersburg Harley Davidson dealership

District Harley Davidson at 7830 Airpark Road in Gaithersburg was burglarized in the early morning hours of April 13, 2024, Montgomery County police say. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry at the dealership. A motorcycle was stolen, and has not yet been recovered as of this writing. Police describe the suspects only as two Black males of unknown age. If you have any information about these suspects, the motorcycle or this incident, you are asked to call police at (301) 279-8000.

Do you recognize this Montgomery Village burglary suspect?

Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating a suspect in a burglary rampage across commercial properties in Derwood and Montgomery Village earlier this month. The suspect is accused of attempting to burglarize an ATM at the Bank of America in the 17500 block of Redland Road by smashing it with a rock at 10:58 PM on Sunday, March 3, 2024; forcing his way into and stealing cash from Spice Lanka on the same block moments later; and then trying and failing to force entry into Derwood Beer & Wine in the 17600 block of Redland Road. 

On Wednesday, March 6, police say the same suspect tried his luck in Montgomery Village, breaking into Vida Hair Salon at 19122 Montgomery Village Avenue at 11:02 PM. He allegedly took cash from the cash register and fled. A few hours later, at 3:21 AM on March 7, the suspect allegedly broke into Dollar Tree, Moe's Southwest Grill, Ledo Pizza and The Joint - all at the Montgomery Village Center. He is accused of stealing money from Moe's. The suspect then broke into the Metro by T-Mobile store at 9989 Stedwick Road in Montgomery Village.

Detectives are working with all of the business owners who were affected to determine if any other property or cash was stolen from their spaces. Police describe the suspect as an adult Black male, approximately 5-feet, 10-inches in height, with a slim build. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. Detectives have released a photo of the suspect, shown above.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect or these crimes is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org, and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page, or call 1-866-411-8477.  Tips with information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward from $250 up to $10,000. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Strong-arm robbery in Montgomery Village

Montgomery County police are searching for five suspects who assaulted and stole property from an adult male victim in Montgomery Village on February 7, 2024 around 8:00 PM. The incident was reported in the 19200 block of Montgomery Village Avenue; the Montgomery Village Center is located there. Police describe the suspects as a Black male aged 18-20, three Black males of unknown age, and one Black female of unknown age. If you can identify any of the suspects, or have any information related to this incident, you are asked to call police at the anonymous Crime Solvers tipline at 1-866-411-8477, or the non-emergency number at 301-279-8000.

Assault at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Rio Lakefront late Monday afternoon, December 4, 2023. The assault was reported in a retail store in the 9800 block of Washingtonian Boulevard at 5:28 PM Monday. Someone was accused of shoplifting in the same incident.

Shoplifters assault New Grand Mart employees in Germantown

A group of alleged shoplifters got violent when confronted by employees of a Germantown grocery store on November 4, 2023. Six suspects stole merchandise from the New Grand Mart at 13069 Wisteria Drive in the Germantown Plaza shopping center at 9:39 AM that morning. When several employees tried to stop them, they were assaulted by the suspects, who then fled the store.

Police describe the suspects as 2 Black males of unknown age, another Black male in his early twenties, and 2 Black females of unknown age. There is no description of the sixth suspect. If you have any information on this incident, or you can identify the suspects involved, you are asked to call police at (301) 279-8000.

Purse snatching at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg City police responded to a report of a purse-snatching at Rio Lakefront around lunchtime this past Sunday, October 8, 2023. The theft was reported at a restaurant in the unit block of Grand Corner Avenue at 12:07 PM Sunday. Initial reports indicate that the purse was not taken by force, but had been left unattended or unsupervised.

Purse snatched at Rio Lakefront

Gaithersburg City police responded to a report of a purse snatching at Rio Lakefront on Friday, September 22, 2023. The theft was reported in the unit block of Grand Corner Avenue at 2:00 PM. No force was used to steal the purse, which was apparently left unattended.

Giant limiting self-checkout to 20 items or less, due to "a significant increase in crime"

The other shoe has dropped in Giant's changes to its self-checkout system, and it's landed directly on the shopper's head. Self-checkout will now be limited to 20 items or less, due to "a significant increase in crime and theft that we and many other retailers are experiencing across our market area," Giant President Ira Kress said in a message to customers. He said the new limit, along with the weighing scale recently added to the self-checkout units, will "mitigate the impact of theft to our business."

Under the new system, parents shopping for large families, or anyone who prefers to get their shopping out of the way once a week, will essentially be forced to go through the traditional checkout lines. However, Giant has tended to shut those down as the evening goes on, angering customers who were averse to self-checkout machines. Kress did not specify if Giant will now keep cashiers at the old checkout lines until closing at stores. But he did acknowledge what will be a major impact on many Giant customers.

"We know that these changes may cause some inconvenience or be disruptive to the experience you are used to," Kress said, "and I assure you we are making these changes out of necessity to prioritize the safety of our associates and customers." A shoplifter was recently caught on video assaulting a security guard at the Bethesda Row Giant store. Corporate policy appeared to limit the guard's ability to escalate his response; even after being struck in the face, he could only plaintively continue to ask the shoplifter to show him a receipt. 

Once again, we see how the failure of our elected officials to respond to increasing crime - one of the most basic responsibilities of their offices - creates negative impacts for the law-abiding residents of our community. It's interesting that business leaders will admit crime is increasing, and is a major problem, before our elected officials will.

Pickpocket strikes at Gaithersburg store

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a pickpocket at a store in Gaithersburg on Wednesday morning, January 18, 2023. The pocket was picked at a store in the 600 block of N. Frederick Avenue at 11:00 AM. An attempt was later made to use one of the stolen credit cards obtained in the theft. 

Purse snatched at Gaithersburg supermarket

Montgomery County police were called to a Gaithersburg grocery store Monday afternoon, after at least one shopper's purse was snatched. The theft was reported at a supermarket in the 600 block of Quince Orchard Road at 5:15 PM on December 26, 2022. There is an Aldi on that block. Remember to never leave your purse unattended in a cart while shopping.

Pickpocket strikes at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg

Montgomery County police were called to a restaurant at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg yesterday morning, after a pickpocket incident occurred there. The theft was reported at a restaurant in the unit block of Grand Corner Avenue at 9:30 AM on Wednesday. An attempt was later made to use one of the stolen credit cards at a retail store.