Crime & Safety

Fairfax County Police Take Down Alleged GPS Theft Ring

Four men have been arrested and charged with larceny

Fairfax County police have arrested four men they say were responsible for a string of GPS robberies in Franconia and other parts of Fairfax County.

Police say the robberies occurred between November and December 2010 in Franconia, Burke, and Mount Vernon.

18-year-old Javier A. Melendez Ferman, of 7240 Commerce St. in Springfield, and a 17-year-old Springfield teenager were arrested on January 8 for the crimes and charged for larceny and, for Ferman, possession of stolen property with intent to sell.

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Another suspect, Gray Combs, a 21-year-old resident of 3701 Towanda Road in Alexandria, was arrested on Jan. 10 and charged with grad larceny, intent to sell stolen property, and felony destruction of property for allegedly damaging a vehicle. A fourth man, Angel N. Hernandez Molina, 19, of 3809 Executive Avenue in Alexandria, was charged with grand larceny and possession of stolen property with intent to resell.

Police say the investigation began in December when detectives at the Franconia District Station received a tip about the crimes.

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Police say the four arrested men had a routine for the break-ins: they looked for cars to break-in to from midnight to 3 a.m., allegedly prowling in poorly-lit areas, looking for unlocked vehicles with visible valuables. Sometimes, police say the alleged thieves would look on windshields for suction cup marks, then break into the car hoping to find GPS devices.


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