In yesterday’s Washington Post, Miranda S. Spivack writes: Instead of Safety, Md. Footbridge Brings Muggings:
Since the bridge opened in August, linking walkers to the Forest Glen Metro stop north of the Beltway, there have been three armed robberies, two at gunpoint and one with a knife. The incidents have frightened commuters and residents and caused headaches for police and county public works officials who are struggling to find ways to stem the crime.
The robberies have stood out because violent crime in the area is uncommon. In 2005, there was one robbery in the neighborhood. In 2006, there were six, and two of them were on the footbridge, police said.
In Olde Towne, however, we’ve recently (January 9) had two robberies in a single day. And following the third Olde Towne robbery in just over a week (on January 5), the Gaithersburg Police stated that (quoting the Gazette) the “case doesn’t necessarily indicate a spike in robberies and no additional police patrols are planned.”
Continuing with Ms. Spivack’s story,
Police have made no arrests in the robberies. Capt. Betsy Davis, who commands the Silver Spring police district with jurisdiction over the area, said she and her officers have stepped up patrols and have been in frequent contact with public works official Tim Cupples about lights that repeatedly failed.
They are looking into a variety of ways to make the bridge safer, including installing cameras and call boxes, Davis said. The lights are working now but might need to be brighter, she said.
What will it take for Gaithersburg officials to take the problems in Olde Towne as seriously as Silver Spring appears to take theirs?