Arlington County police officers successfully thwarted a would-be thief's attempt to steal a license plate off a police vehicle in which an officer was sitting. Fernando Javier Arraya, 34, of Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged yesterday with one count of possession of burglarious tools, a felony, and one count of tampering with a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor.
At approximately 7:30 p.m., Nov. 26, two plain-clothed Arlington County police officers were sitting in a parking lot in their unmarked police vehicles. They were discussing strategies for catching car thieves through their open windows and had a radio on. At that point, a vehicle pulled into the lot and parked in a spot right next to one of the police vehicles. The driver got out of his vehicle and began to scan the parking lot, as if checking to see if anyone was watching. After satisfying himself that no one was around, the driver walked to the front of one of the police vehicles and began to unscrew the license plate. After watching the suspect for several seconds, both officers stepped out of their vehicles and placed the subject under arrest.
ROBBERY
* 2200 S. Arlington Ridge Road. On Nov. 21 at approximately 12:55 p.m., the victim, a 43-year-old female, was walking into a church when an unknown subject ran up behind her and grabbed her purse. The victim began to wrestle with the subject, but the subject was able to take the purse. The subject ran to a maroon vehicle that fled in the direction of I-395 North. The subject was described as a black male, cleancut, 6 feet to 6 feet 1, medium build, clean shaven, black hair, brown eyes, wearing a black or dark coat, a tan shirt and sunglasses.
* 1700 S. Hayes St. On Nov. 25, at 4:45 p.m., the victim, a 44-year-old female, was walking on the sidewalk when an unknown subject ran up from behind and grabbed her purse. After a brief struggle the subject was able to take the victim's purse. The subject fled on foot. The subject was described as a black male, 5 feet 8 inches, 150 pounds, 17 years old, wearing khaki pants and a blue-and-gray checkered flannel shirt.
* 5000 S. Columbia Pk. At 12:59 a.m. Nov. 27, the victim, a 16-year-old male, was sitting at the bus stop when a vehicle stopped near him. Subject #1, a passenger in the vehicle, got out and demanded the victim's wallet. The victim initially tried to run away but then complied. Subject #1 returned to the vehicle and fled the scene. Subject #1 was described as a white hispanic male, 16-17 years old, 5'4", 190lbs, brown eyes and black hair wearing a blue shirt, black pants and boots. Subject #2, the driver, was described as a white hispanic male with long hair. The suspect vehicle was described as a red 2-door Honda CRX.
* 1400 N. Taft St. At 1:40 a.m. Dec. 1, the victim, a 24-year-old female, was leaving a building when she was approached by a subject known to her. The victim and subject were having a conversation when the subject suddenly punched the victim and threw her to the ground. The subject then took the victim's money and fled on foot south on N. Taft St. The subject was described as an Asian male, 34yo, 5'7", 160lbs, brown eyes and black hair, wearing a white shirt, cream jacket, black pants and black shoes.
ARMED ROBBERY
* 1900 Columbia Pike. On Nov. 23, at approximately 2:10 a.m., the victim, a 24-year-old male, was waiting at a bus stop when two unknown subjects exited a vehicle and approached him. The subjects demanded the victim's money. The victim initially refused, but one of the subjects produced a handgun and again demanded money. The victim gave the subjects an undetermined amount of cash. The subjects returned to the vehicle and fled eastbound on Columbia Pike. A third subject was driving the vehicle. Subject 1 was described as a white male, 21-25 years old, 5 feet 10, 180-190 pounds, wearing a black leather jacket, black pants, black boots and a knit cap with a face mask, and gloves. Subject 2 was described as white male, 21-25, 6 feet 2, 220 pounds, wearing the same thing as Subject 1. Subject 3 was described as a white male wearing all black.
* 2400 S. Dinwiddie St. On Nov. 25, At 6:29 a.m., the victim, a 29-year-old male, was pulling his vehicle into a parking space when another vehicle stopped near him. Subject 1 and Subject 2 got out and walked up to the victim's window. The victim, realizing something was wrong, started to roll up his window when Subject 1 produced a handgun and demanded the victim's money and cell phone. The subject complied, and both subjects returned to the suspect vehicle. A third subject was driving the vehicle. Subject 1 was described as a black male, 18-20, 5 feet 9 to 6 feet, medium build, brown eyes, no facial hair, wearing a dark-colored knit hat, a dark jacket and dark jeans. Subject 2 was described as a black male, 18-20, 5 feet 9 to 6 feet, thin to medium build, with a short, black afro and dark clothing. Subject 3 was described as a black male.
* 5000 Chesterfield Road. On Nov. 25, at approximately 6:20 a.m., the victim, 55, was walking to work when he was approached by two unknown subjects who demanded his money. Subject 1 produced a handgun, and Subject 2 grabbed the victim's arm. The subjects took the victim's wallet and fled on foot. Both subjects were described as black males, early 20s, 5 feet 9 to 6 feet, thin to medium builds, wearing dark-colored clothing and dark-colored knit hats.
* 1400 Jefferson Davis Highway. At approximately 9:25 p.m., Nov. 26, the victim, 45, was sitting on a path when two unknown subjects approached him. Subject 1 produced a knife, demanded the victim's money and removed an undetermined amount of cash from the victim's pocket. Both subjects walked away from the scene toward South Eads Street and S. 15th Street. Subject 1 was described as a white Hispanic male, 22-24, 5 feet 6, 170 pounds, black hair, wearing a black, waist-length coat with red stripe on sleeve, blue jeans and black Adidas shoes. Subject 2 was described as a white Hispanic male, 22-24, black hair, wearing a gray jacket, blue jeans and white tennis shoes.
* 2400 S. Oxford St. At 7:53 p.m. Dec. 2, the victim, an 18-year-old male, was standing on the sidewalk when he observed a white "boxy" car with tinted windows slowly drive up the street. A few minutes later, two subjects were walking toward him on S. Oxford St. When the subjects were approximately 15 feet away from the victim, Subject #1 ordered the victim to lay down. Subject #2, wielding a shotgun, aimed the weapon at the victim and his friends. The victim's friends were able to run inside a house, but the victim complied and laid on the ground. Subject #1 began to search the victim's pockets and took an undetermined amount of cash. Subject #2 fired several shots, but nobody was injured. The subjects fled the scene. A short time later, Arlington officers on patrol observed a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle was followed into Alexandria where the occupants of the vehicle exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Officers chased the subjects but did not apprehend them. Officers did recover the suspect vehicle, several firearms and other possible evidence of the crime. Subject #1 was described as a black male, 20's, 5'8". 180lbs, brown eyes, black braided hair, wearing a black snowsuit. Subject #2 was described as a black male, 20's, brown eyes and black hair, wearing a blue overall work uniform.
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
<lst>* 5400 S. 3rd St. Sometime between 10:15 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., Nov. 22, unknown subject(s) forced entry into a residence by breaking a sliding glass door and stole various pieces of jewelry.
* 2000 S. Nelson St. Sometime between 8 a.m. and 4:50 p.m. on Nov. 22, an unknown subject(s) entered a residence and stole video game equipment. There were no signs of forced entry.
* 5400 S. 8th St. Sometime between 12:30 and 6:10 a.m. on Nov. 24, a subject entered a house through an unlocked door while the residents were sleeping. The subject removed several jackets from a closet and placed them near a back door. The subject then fell asleep on the floor, where he was found the next morning by the residents. The subject was still asleep when police arrived. Wilfredo Miguel Dasilva Rivero, 29, of Arlington, was arrested and charged with burglary.
* 4041 N. 22nd St. Sometime between 1 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. on Nov. 28, an unknown subject(s) broke into a residence through a glass door. Nothing appeared to be missing.
* 3800 N. 7th St. On Dec. 1, at 10:45 p.m., the victim, a 31-year-old female, was in her residence when she heard a strange noise in her living room. She then observed a subject in her house who resembled her ex-boyfriend. The victim called the police. Upon arrival, officers located a subject in front of the residence. The subject was positively identified, interviewed and arrested for burglary. The subject was in possession of the victim's keys.
ATTEMPTED RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
* 1100 Arlington Blvd. Sometime between 10 a.m. on Nov. 1 and 10 a.m. on Nov. 14, unknown subject(s) attempted to enter an apartment but were not able to break through the security chain.
* 1100 N. Kensington St. Sometime between 12 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Nov. 28, unknown subject(s) attempted to gain entry into an apartment by breaking a window. Entry was not gained and nothing was stolen.
* 3100 N. Pershing Dr. At 3:40 a.m. Nov. 30, police officers were dispatched for a report of a subject attempting to break a window to an apartment. The subject fled the scene prior to police arriving. The window was not broken. The subject was described as a male wearing dark clothing.
COMMERCIAL BURGLARIES
* 1900 N. Ft. Meyer Drive. Sometime between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 23, an unknown subject(s) forced entry into a office suite. Nothing appeared to be missing from the suite.
* 5100 Lee Highway, Sometime between Nov. 24 at 12 p.m. and Nov. 25 at 7:50 a.m., an unknown subject(s) forced entry into a store and stole merchandise and an undetermined amount of cash.
* 1700 N. Moore St. Sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 27, an unknown subject(s) entered a locked office suite. The subject(s) stole two laptop computers. There were no signs of forced entry.
* 2400 S. 26th St. On Nov. 28, at 3:01 a.m., an unknown subject(s) forced entry into a store by throwing a rock at the glass door. The subject(s) stole an undetermined amount of cash.
* 3000 N. Washington Blvd., Sometime between 2 p.m. on Dec. 1 and 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 2, an unknown subject(s) forced entry into a locked storage area at a construction site and stole various tools.
* 3100 Wilson Blvd. Sometime between 2 p.m. on Nov. 27 and 7 a.m. on Dec. 2, an unknown subject(s) forced entry into a storage box at a construction site and stole various tools.
* 2700 S. Lang St. Sometime between 2 p.m. on Nov. 27 and 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 2, an unknown subject(s) forced entry into a construction trailer and stole various tools.
ATTEMPTED COMMERCIAL BURGLARY
* 1000 Wilson Blvd. Sometime between 5:15 p.m. on Nov. 25 and 7:50 a.m. on Nov. 26, an unknown subject(s) attempted to force entry into an office by prying open a door.
STOLEN AUTOS
* 600 S. 23rd St. VA YCF 5361; 1994 Mazda 626, green.
* 1200 S. George Mason Drive VA YTT-6666; 1987 Toyota Van, blue.
* 900 S. Buchanan St. VA YGF 9805; 1988 Toyota Van, gold.
* 3300 S. 6th St. VA YDE 6516; 1997 Dodge Neon, green.
* 4200 Columbia Pk. FL D6ZRJS; 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass, white.
* 4200 S. 36th St. VA ZO6999; 2001 Suzuki Volusia (MC), black.
* 5300 Columbia Pike. VA XYV 8382; 1994 Honda Accord, blue.
* 4600 Four Mile Run Drive. VA YFH 7278; 1997 Honda Accord, green.