Allium Place apartments burglarized in Silver Spring, vehicles stolen from complex

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at the Allium Place apartments at 4024 Gannon Road in Silver Spring on April 13, 2026. The burglary was reported at 12:55 PM. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry. They also discovered that a set of keys were stolen from an office area, which were used to steal a vehicle belonging to the complex. Police describe the suspect only as a Hispanic male of unknown age.

Three days later, another vehicle was reported stolen from the parking lot on April 16. Police believe that vehicle was taken sometime between 5:00 and 7:00 AM that morning. They have no suspect description in that case. If you have any information about either of these incidents that could assist detectives in closing these cases, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Assailant chokes victim to unconsciousness inside Wheaton Plaza

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an aggravated assault at Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall yesterday afternoon, April 23, 2026. At 2:56 PM Thursday, a suspect placed a victim in a chokehold inside a store at the mall. The victim temporarily lost consciousness as a result. While the suspect then fled the store, he was ultimately detained outside the mall by police.

Armed robbery in Four Corners area of Silver Spring

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery at a grocery store in the Four Corners area of Silver Spring yesterday morning, April 22, 2026. An alleged shoplifter was confronted by employees at the Safeway store at 116 University Boulevard West at 11:51 AM Wednesday. The suspect then threatened the employees with an unspecified weapon, police say, and fled the store with merchandise. Officers were able to locate the suspect a short time later, and made an arrest. Police did not identify the suspect.

Car stolen from home in Aspen Hill

Auto thieves are prowling Bel Pre Road in Aspen Hill again. Montgomery County police responded to a report of a vehicle being stolen from the driveway of a home in the 4300 block of Bel Pre yesterday morning. Police believe the vehicle was taken sometime between 10:40 PM on April 20, and 6:20 AM on April 21. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Brazen auto theft in Silver Spring

Auto thieves engaged in a brazen theft in the Connecticut Avenue Estates neighborhood of Silver Spring early yesterday morning, April 20, 2026. The theft took place sometime between 3:30 and 4:30 AM Monday morning in the 3800 block of Brightview Court. Thieves smashed the window of a yellow Chevrolet Camaro and stole it. If you have any information about the identity of the thieves, or the location of the stolen car, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Assault at Wheaton Regional Park

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Wheaton Regional Park on Friday, April 17, 2026. The assault was reported at the park, which is located at 2000 Shorefield Road, at 7:30 PM. It should be noted that the park officially closes at 7:00 PM each night.

AAA office closes at Wheaton Plaza North Building

The American Automobile Association has closed its longtime office at 2730 University Boulevard West, Suite 102, in the Wheaton Plaza North Building (now known as the Westfield Wheaton North building). In an age before GPS, Google Maps, and Expedia, AAA provided essential travel services, including customized TripTik maps for your road trip. These were quite a step up from the gas station fold-out maps and oversized state atlas books that were quite unwieldy to use, especially while driving. It's the end of another holdover from the golden age of Wheaton, and I see AAA's suite is now available for lease.

Wheaton Plaza North Building is another of those golden age holdovers. Completed in 1964, the 11-story building was going to be the tallest office building in Montgomery County when developers Isadore Gudelsky and Theodore Lerner broke ground on the project. Its modified Georgian-inspired architecture cut a sharp appearance, along with the iconic Howard Johnson hotel across University, on the midcentury Wheaton skyline. Architect Arthur L. Anderson, along with Lathrop Douglass and John Bennett, designed the building and the Wheaton Plaza mall it shares the property with.

The building still hosts the medical and government tenants it has specialized in attracting over the last 62 years, and, of course, the mall is still going strong. Alas, Howard Johnson has joined other Wheaton icons like the Anchor Inn and Barry's Magic Shop in the demolition scrap pile. So pour out a HoJo Cola for the obliterated hotel, and, well, you can still get a AAA TripTik...on your phone.