In less than a two-hour span on the night of Friday, Jan. 17, a string of three armed robberies in three separate Herndon neighborhoods upset the calm in the usually quiet suburb.
"The incidents are too similar not to be related," said Lt. Don Amos of the Herndon Police Department. "There are just too many coincidences and this type of crime is very rare in our community. Thankfully, no one has been hurt."
According to Herndon Police, the spree started around 8:55 p.m. on the 600 block of Dulles Park Court near the golf course. A 36-year-old pizza delivery man told police he was robbed at gunpoint as he exited an apartment building after delivering a pizza. The suspect, who is described as a black male in his 20s and wearing dark clothing and a mask, fled the area with an undisclosed amount of cash after brandishing a handgun at the victim. The victim was not hurt.
Nearly 40 minutes later, the spree continued at 9:33 p.m. in the Bruin District of Herndon. A 63-year-old woman was robbed at gunpoint as she got out of her car along the 700 block of Birch Court, police said. The suspect, according to reports, waved a handgun at the victim, who was not hurt, before fleeing with the woman's purse. Police described the suspect as a black male wearing dark clothing and a mask.
Finally, at 10:17 p.m., a male who was reportedly exiting his vehicle along the 1000 block of Queens Court when he was robbed at gunpoint by three suspects, one of whom was armed with a handgun. The suspects fled the area with cigarettes, police said. According to police reports, one suspect was described as a tall, thin and black male wearing dark clothing and a mask. A second suspect was described to police as a light skinned black male wearing dark clothing. The third suspect could not be described, police said.
Amos said the suspects should be considered armed and dangerous, but he cautioned the public not to panic. "There is no need to be nervous," the lieutenant said. "We are just asking them to be cautious and to keep their eyes open and to stay alert."
Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call the Herndon Police at 703-435-6846.