Deputies brief capacity crowd on northern burglary spree

Thursday, Jan. 24 | By Mark Grandstaff

More than 100 northern Fauquier residents packed The Plains fire hall Wednesday to learn about the burglars preying on their homes, and what they could do to stop them.

Since October, burglars have stolen jewelry and silver – and in one instance, a .357 magnum pistol – from five homes on Halfway, Atoka and Landmark roads.

Fauquier sheriff's deputies believe the burglaries are connected to five similar thefts in western Loudoun County, spanning about the same period of time.

At Wednesday's community meeting, a capacity crowd packed the second-floor meeting room at the fire hall, spilling over into the stairwell, as deputies offered a few more details about burglars.

Authorities don't have enough information yet to give a description of suspects, said Fauquier Lt. James Hartman, but they believe that more than one person is responsible.

The burglars are probably not casing the houses before they steal from them, Hartman said.

"I think in these cases, from our experience in the past, these people pick a driveway, whether they can see the house or not, and take a chance," Hartman said.

For the full story, see the Friday edition of The Times-Democrat.

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