Statistics: Growing crime in Virginia's Tysons Corner area since Silver Line opened
Tysons Corner, Va. (ABC7) — Since the Silver Line opened nearly two years ago, it has delivered as promised, many visitors to Tysons Corner.
But all the added traffic has also created significant problems.
"With more people also comes more calls for service and more crime," Lieutenant Chuck Riddle said.
Lieutenant Riddle is with the Tysons Urban Team, established in 2013 to respond to the urbanization of the area. He says a consistent and growing crime is people grabbing expensive items from stores in the mall--shirts, pants, an Xbox and fleeing.
"...and simply run right out and headed towards the train," Lieutenant Riddle said.
Between 2014 and 2015, the Tysons Urban Team recorded a 58 percent increase in felonies and a 34 percent increase in misdemeanors, and the trend is continuing in 2016.
Fairfax Police are also seeing an increase in out-of-state organized retail crime groups hitting the malls at Tysons from New York, Michigan, Illinois and beyond. Last month the Urban Team busted 3 suspects from Florida accused of taking $76 thousand dollars in high-end clothing and accessories from stores at Tysons Corner Mall.
Lieutenant Riddle says battling the overall spike in theft will depend on retailers keeping a close eye on theft and calling police the moment crime happens.
"And to have more officers to be able to staff at least the Tysons Corner area to help combat the retail crime seven days a week," said Lieutenant Riddle.
Despite the increase in property crimes and fraud like credit card theft, police have seen no increase in violent crimes against people in Tysons, and they hope to keep it that way.
http://wjla.com/news/local/statistics-growing-crime-in-virginias-tysons-corner-area-since-silver-line-opened