Auto thieves return to Bel Pre Road in Aspen Hill

Lock those vehicles on Bel Pre Road! Auto thieves are returning yet again to one of their favorite haunts in Montgomery County. Montgomery County police report that a vehicle was reported stolen yesterday in the 3800 block of Bel Pre at 5:04 AM. It was taken from a residential parking lot.

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.

Another auto theft on Bel Pre Road in Aspen Hill

Oh, no, not again! Auto thieves continue to live their best lives on Bel Pre Road in Aspen Hill. A car parked in a commercial parking lot in the 2200 block of Bel Pre is the latest to be snatched. It was reported stolen at 12:39 PM on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. 

Auto thieves still prowling Bel Pre Road in Aspen Hill

Auto thieves continue to target Aspen Hill, and specifically, the Bel Pre Road corridor there. They struck again Sunday, February 8, 2026. And once again, they hit the 3300 block of Weeping Willow Court. A vehicle was reported stolen from a residential parking lot there at 8:53 AM Sunday. Remember to lock your vehicle, remove all visible items from the cabin, don't leave keys or key fobs in the glove compartment or ignition(!!), and use an anti-theft device like The Club to deter thieves.

Auto theft wave continues in Aspen Hill

Auto thefts are getting out of control recently in the Bel Pre Road corridor of Aspen Hill. At least six vehicles were stolen from that area between January 20 and January 24, 2026. Thieves have returned to prey on the neighborhood again. Vehicles were stolen on January 29 from the 3800 block of Dunsinane Drive and 14500 Macbeth Drive. The following morning, a vehicle was reported stolen in the 3700 block of Capulet Terrace. Finally, on January 31, a car was reported stolen from a school parking lot in the 2400 block of Bel Pre Road at 1:54 PM.

Assault in Aspen Hill

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault in Aspen Hill early yesterday morning, January 9, 2026. The assault was reported in the 3900 block of Bel Pre Road at 1:05 AM Friday. It took place along the street.

Renovations ahead for Plaza Del Mercado McDonald's

Significant renovations are scheduled for the McDonald's restaurant at 2207 Bel Pre Road at Plaza Del Mercado in Aspen Hill. The front counter, dining room, and restrooms will all be remodeled or updated. New seating will be installed, as well as new kitchen equipment and fixtures. However, the restaurant is expected to remain open for business during the construction. We've seen a number of McDonald's in Montgomery County getting makeovers in recent times, particularly in the East County and Upcounty areas. Work at the Plaza Del Mercado location is anticipated to begin before the winter.

Car stolen from Aspen Hill condo parking lot

Montgomery County police are investigating the theft of a vehicle from a condominum parking lot in Aspen Hill yesterday morning. The vehicle was reported stolen in the 3900 block of Bel Pre Road at 7:00 AM, according to crime data. That is the location of the Grand Bel II Condominums. It is believed the car was stolen sometime between 10:00 PM Monday night and 7:00 AM Tuesday morning.

HAWK signals added to Bel Pre Road in Aspen Hill

Montgomery County Department of Transportation has installed HAWK crossing signals at three crosswalks along Bel Pre Road between Georgia Avenue and Layhill Road in Aspen Hill. The pedestrian-activated crossing signals are located at Tynewick Drive, Weeping Willow Drive, and Astrodome Drive/North Gate Drive. Here is a handy guide MCDOT has released on how pedestrians and drivers interact with HAWK signals under current traffic regulations:

Minor solicited for sex in Silver Spring park

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a minor being solicited for sex at a park in Silver Spring Monday night. The incident occurred at a park in the 3700 block of Bel Pre Road in the Aspen Hill area around 9:00 PM, according to crime data.

Bel Pre Road resident missing

A resident of Bel Pre Road is missing, and police are seeking the public's help in locating him. Sairaj Nitin Shinde, 25, of Bel Pre Road, hasn't been seen or heard from since sending a text message to friends at approximately 1:00 PM on April 26. Detectives believe that Shinde is driving his white 2017 Honda Civic with Maryland tags: 9DB7439.

Police describe Sairaj Nitin Shinde as a white male, 5’ 6” tall, weighing 160 pounds. He has short black hair and brown eyes. Police and family members are concerned for Mr. Shinde’s physical and emotional welfare.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Sairaj Nitin Shinde or his vehicle to call the Montgomery County Police Department’s non-emergency number at 301-279-8000.

Bel Pre death now a homicide

Ruel Francis Dempster II

The death of a woman last week in an apartment on Bel Pre Road in Aspen Hill has been declared a homicide by Montgomery County police detectives. Alice Mino Dennis, 34, was found dead on the kitchen floor of her home in the 3600 block of Bel Pre Road on the morning of April 18. She had suffered trauma to her upper body, and the state medical examiner declared the death a homicide following an autopsy.

Police are now seeking Dennis' husband as the primary suspect in her death, which detectives allege occurred after a domestic dispute between the two. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Ruel Francis Dempster II, 30, who also lived in the apartment at the time of her death.

Dempster is described by police as an "African male, approximately 6’00” tall and 180 pounds." He has a prominent gold front tooth. Detectives say Dempster II was seen in Baltimore on the afternoon of April 17.

Anyone with information about Dempster’s whereabouts is urged to call the Montgomery County Police Department at 301-279-8000 (24/7 line) or Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).  Callers may remain anonymous.

STORMS KNOCK DOWN WIRES, KNOCK OUT POWER IN ASPEN HILL, GLENMONT, SILVER SPRING

Wires were reported down and power out in the vicinity of Bel Pre Road and Big Bear Court in Aspen Hill this evening. Pepco estimates restoration by 9:00 PM tonight there.

Three small outages near Georgia Avenue and Randolph Road in Glenmont are forecast to take a bit longer to fix, with power not expected back near Glenallen Avenue and Randolph until noon tomorrow. Another small outage in Kemp Mill has a 6:00 AM restoration time.

Two other small outages are currently reported in southern Wheaton, and west of Four Corners.

The largest outages are north of Leisure World around Norbeck Road and the ICC. I've also received a report of storm/wind damage within Leisure World.

ROBBERY IN WHITE OAK, 3 ASSAULTS + STOLEN CAR IN DT SILVER SPRING + MORE - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on August 11, according to crime data:

Assault. 3800 block Bel Pre Road (Aspen Hill).

Theft. 13700 block Connecticut Avenue (Aspen Hill).

Theft. 13300 block Keating Street (Aspen Hill).

Theft. 2200 block Veirs Mill Road.

Theft. 400 block Beaumont Road (Colesville).

Theft. 4200 block Colie Drive.

Assault. 13900 block Castle Drive (Fairland).

Assault with deadly weapon. Fairland Road at Old Columbia Pike (Fairland).

Assault. Sandy Spring Road at Columbia Pike (Burtonsville).

Robbery. 800 block Northwest Drive (White Oak).

Theft. 10200 block New Hampshire Avenue (Hillandale).

Stolen car. Fenton Street at Ellsworth Drive.

Assault. 8400 block Colesville Road.

Assault. Wayne Avenue at Georgia Avenue.

Assault. 8200 block Schrider Street.

Stolen car. 900 block Benson Terrace.

Assault. 11400 block Georgia Avenue (Wheaton).

Assault. 1100 block Jackson Avenue.

2 ASSAULTS ON BEL PRE ROAD IN ASPEN HILL + MORE - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on July 5, according to crime data:

Assault. 3900 block Bel Pre Road - 12:13 AM (Aspen Hill).

Assault. Chesterfield Road at Bel Pre Road - 12:10 AM (Aspen Hill).

Burglary. 13400 block Crispin Way (Aspen Hill).

Assault with deadly weapon. 12300 block Charles Road - 1:20 AM.

Other sexual offense. 11500 block Clairmont View Terrace (Wheaton).

Assault with deadly weapon. 11200 block Georgia Avenue.

Theft. 9300 block Columbia Boulevard.

Other sexual offense. 1100 block Fidler Lane.

Burglary. 8300 block Colesville Road.

Theft from vehicle. 800 block Wayne Avenue.

Assault. 900 block Ellsworth Drive.

Theft. 300 block Southampton Drive.

Assault. 1500 block Heather Hollow Circle (White Oak).

Assault. 11100 block New Hampshire Avenue (White Oak).

Assault. 7600 block Maple Avenue.

2 DRUG ARRESTS IN BEL PRE AREA, THEFT AT PINEY BRANCH ES + MORE - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on April 11, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 10500 block Insley Street (Plyers Mill Estates, Georgia Avenue corridor).

Drug arrest. Georgia Avenue near Tilton Drive (Forest Glen area).

Drug arrest. District Court, 8552 2nd Avenue (downtown Silver Spring).

Drug arrest. Bonifant Street at Ramsey Avenue (downtown Silver Spring).

Theft. 8600 block Cameron Street (downtown Silver Spring).

Drug arrest. 8500 block Colesville Road (downtown Silver Spring).

Theft. Macy's at Wheaton Plaza.

Liquor arrest. 11200 block Grandview Avenue (Wheaton).

Drug arrest. Georgia Avenue at Colesville Road (downtown Silver Spring).

Theft. 8700 block Colesville Road (downtown Silver Spring).

Theft. 2500 block Kensington Boulevard (Wheaton).

Liquor arrest. 2400 block Ennalls Avenue (Wheaton).

Drug arrest. Fenton Street at Sligo Avenue (downtown Silver Spring).

Theft. 3800 block Randolph Road (near Connecticut Avenue).

Theft. Piney Branch Elementary School (Takoma Park).

Drug arrest. Piney Branch Road at Greenwood Avenue (Long Branch).

Theft. Kohl's (Aspen Hill).

Disorderly conduct. 14200 block Georgia Avenue (Bel Pre area).

Drug arrest. 14200 block Georgia Avenue (Bel Pre area).

Drug arrest. 14300 block Georgia Avenue (near Bel Pre Road).

Drug arrest. 7400 block New Hampshire Avenue (Takoma Park).

Burglary. 1000 block Ruatan Street (New Hampshire Estates area).

Burglary. 11200 block Oak Leaf Drive (White Oak).

Drug arrest. New Hampshire Avenue at Oakview Drive (just south of the Beltway).

Drug arrest. 11600 block Lockwood Drive (White Oak).

Vehicle burglary. 1500 block Regent Manor Court (White Oak).

MORE BURGLARIES IN WHEATON/KEMP MILL AREA, BEL PRE ROAD CRIME SPIKE - SILVER SPRING CRIME UPDATE

A wave of burglaries in the vicinity of Kemp Mill in Wheaton continued Friday, with 2 additional break-ins reported. Increased criminal activity was recorded in the area of Bel Pre Road that day, as well. A robbery was reported on Grubb Road, and 2 thefts and a drug arrest occurred in Calverton.

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Montgomery County on March 28, according to crime data:

Robbery. 8300 block Grubb Road.

Theft. 1700 block East-West Highway (downtown Silver Spring).

Drug arrest. 8300 block 16th Street (downtown Silver Spring).

Vehicle burglary. 8600 block Cameron Street (downtown Silver Spring).

Vehicle burglary. Parking Garage 2, 1200 Spring Street (downtown Silver Spring).

Vehicle burglary. 8700 block Cameron Street (downtown Silver Spring).

Disorderly conduct. 11200 block Grandview Avenue (Wheaton).

Disorderly conduct. 2500 block Ennalls Avenue (Wheaton).

Assault. Wayne Plaza, 926 Wayne Avenue (downtown Silver Spring).

Assault. Rodman's on Randolph Road (Wheaton).

Disorderly conduct. 8500 block Fenton Street (downtown Silver Spring).

Disorderly conduct. Silver Spring Library, 8901 Colesville Road (downtown Silver Spring).

Liquor arrest. 8200 block Fenton Street (downtown Silver Spring).

Burglary. 800 block Easley Street (downtown Silver Spring).

Drug arrest. 11500 block Amherst Avenue (Wheaton).

Vehicle burglary. 300 block Ellsworth Drive (downtown Silver Spring).

Theft. 700 block Sligo Avenue.

Theft. 2500 block Sheraton Street (Glenmont).

Assault. Georgia Avenue at Randolph Road.

Burglary. 800 block Gabel Street (Kemp Mill).

Drug arrest. Four Corners 7-11.

Burglary. 7700 block Maple Avenue (Takoma Park).

Burglary. 800 block Kersey Road (Kemp Mill).

Assault. 7500 block Carroll Avenue (Takoma Park).

Burglary. 13500 block Georgia Avenue (Aspen Hill).

Theft. Kohls (Aspen Hill).

Assault. 3700 block Bel Pre Road.

Drug arrest. 14300 block Astrodome Drive (Bel Pre Road area).

Theft. 14300 block Layhill Road (near Bel Pre Road).

Theft. 12000 block Cherry Hill Road (Calverton/Riderwood area).

Theft. 12000 block Cherry Hill Road (Calverton/Riderwood area).

Drug arrest. Gracefield Road at Calverton Boulevard (Calverton).

AUTO BREAK-INS ON GIST AVE., DRUG ARREST AT BLAIR HS - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Two vehicles were broken into in the 700 block of Gist Avenue last Friday, according to crime data. If you are a resident in the area, make sure to lock your vehicle and remove any items from the cabin.

Many drug arrests were reported Friday, as well, including one at Blair High School.

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on February 28, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 4200 block Garrett Park Road (Veirs Mill ES area).

Liquor arrest. 11200 block Grandview Avenue (Wheaton).

Theft. 11200 block Georgia Avenue (Wheaton).

Assault. 700 block Ellsworth Drive (downtown Silver Spring).

Vehicle burglary. 700 block Gist Avenue (Silver Spring).

Vehicle theft. 12400 block Dalewood Drive (Wheaton).

Vehicle burglary. 700 block Gist Avenue.

Drug arrest. Wayne Avenue and Sligo Creek Parkway.

Assault. 200 block Ethan Allen Avenue (Takoma Park).

Drug arrest. Carroll Avenue at Manor Circle (Takoma Park).

Drug arrest. XX block University Boulevard E. (Four Corners vicinity).

Drug arrest. Blair HS.

Drug arrest. Domer Avenue and Flower Avenue (Takoma Park).

Theft. 5200 block Russett Road (Aspen Hill).

Drug arrest. Bel Pre Road and Georgia Avenue.

Theft. 13500 block Tivoli Lake Boulevard (Layhill area).

Burglary. 9600 block New Hampshire Avenue.

Burglary. 300 block Soapstone Lane (Stonegate area).

Theft. 2300 block Broadbirch Drive (Calverton).

Drug arrest. Columbia Pike and Fairland Road.

ASSAULT ON GRANDVIEW AVE., 2 DRUG ARRESTS BY N.H. ESTATES - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of notable crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on February 21, according to crime data:

Robbery. 8300 block Colesville Road.

Burglary. 10800 block Georgia Avenue (apparently an apartment).

Drug arrest. Cameron Street and Ramsey Avenue.

Drug arrest. Georgia Avenue and Corwin Drive.

Assault. 11200 block Grandview Avenue (Wheaton).

Drug arrest. 12500 block Veirs Mill Road (Aspen Hill).

Burglary. 4400 block Sigsbee Road.

Drug arrest. 2800 block Sheraton Street (Glenmont).

Drug arrest. University Boulevard E. and Seek Lane. (New Hampshire Estates area).

Drug arrest. Forston Street and University Boulevard E. (New Hampshire Estates area).

Vehicle burglary. 2200 block Bel Pre Road.

Drug arrest. New Hampshire Avenue at Shaw Avenue (Colesville).

Drug arrest. Stewart Lane and April Lane (White Oak).

DRUG ARREST AT GLENMONT METRO, ROBBERY IN SILVER SPRING - CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of notable crimes reported in the east county on February 7, according to crime data:

Burglary. 12300 block Georgia Avenue (Glenmont).

Theft. 12100 block Edgemont Street (Glenmont).

Drug arrest. Glenmont Metro station.

Theft. 2200 block Randolph Road (Glenmont).

Theft. 6900 block Westmoreland Avenue (Takoma Park).

Robbery. 700 block Easley Street (Silver Spring).

Burglary. 2600 block Bel Pre Road.

Drug arrest. Aspen Hill Road at Frankfort Drive vicinity.

Burglary. 14700 block Carona Drive (Bonifant Road corridor).