Crime & Safety

March's Top Stories: NCAA Tournament, Springfield Mall Renovations, Serial Groper and Telegraph Road Construction

See which stories Kingstowne Patch readers clicked on the most in the month of March.

A few stories caught the attention of Kingstowne Patch readers this month. Here are the top 10 stories on the site from the past month.

Once you're done reviewing the list, let us know if you're surprised by this month's top stories. Which story had you talking to coworkers at the water cooler the next day?

10. Police Arrest Two Armed Men from Springfield in Connection with Burke-Area Burglaries

Find out what's happening in Kingstowne-Rose Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fairfax County Police have charged two Springfield men, after connecting them as suspects with a series of burglaries that took place Tuesday afternoon in the Burke area, according to a news release issued Friday afternoon.

The two men, Andrew Kovch, 27, and Jimmy Le, 23, were charged with burglary, attempted burglary and grand larceny.

Find out what's happening in Kingstowne-Rose Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

9. Restaurant Inspections: Springfield Restaurant Receives Five Critical Violations

El Rancho Restaurant
6959 Hechinger Dr.
Date of inspection: March 5
Critical (corrected during inspection): One or more of the elements of an effective employee health policy is either missing or incomplete. A complete employee health policy is required to be in place at the food establishment.
Critical (corrected during inspection): A food employee failed to wash his or her hands before engaging in food preparation, after touching bare human body parts, after coughing, sneezing, eating, after handling soiled utensils, or after engaging in any activity that could contaminate the hands.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Food items for which time rather than temperature is used as a control is not marked or otherwise identified to indicate the time that is four hours past the point in time when the food is removed from temperature control.
Critical: A review of the menu with the foodservice operator indicates that there is no consumer advisory for some food items that may be served raw and/or undercooked.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Observed an ambient temperature above 45 degrees in the refrigeration unit holding raw shells eggs.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Observed the handsink in the back being used storage empty plastic container.
Non-critical: There was no temperature measuring device located in the majority of the cold holding equipment.
Non-critical: Food stored on the floor and/or food stored less than six inches off the floor.

8. Construction on Portion of Telegraph Road to be Completed in 2015

The preliminary design stage of a construction project on a portion of Telegraph Road is mostly complete, and the full project is expected to be completed by September 2015, said Khalid Gandhi, project manager.

This project features improvements along the 0.2 mile strip of Telegraph Road between South Van Dorn Street and South Kings Highway. The construction will also include reconstruction to the Huntley Meadows Park entrance and parking lot on South Kings Highway.

7. Police Investigate Possible 22nd Assault in Serial Groper Attacks

The Fairfax County Police Department is currently investigating another incident that may be related to the series of assaults that have been happening mainly in the Springfield area since early September 2012.

In the latest incident, a 32-year-old woman reported that a man grabbed her from behind around 7 p.m. Tuesday while she was placing luggage into the trunk of her car in the 6400 block of Franconia Court, according to a FCPD news release. When the victim turned around, the man fled.

6. Weekly Crime Report: Police Search for Peeping Tom Near Clermont Drive

Peeping, 12:35 a.m., Feb. 25, 5500 block of Clermont Drive, A 26-year-old reported she was in her bedroom when she saw a man looking through the window at her. A K-9 team and the helicopter assisted in searching for the man. No one was found.

5. Plan Now: Easter Egg Hunts 2013 in Fairfax County

Easter is on its way — wondering where you can find a fun Easter egg hunt for the whole family in and around Kingstowne and other parts of Northern Virginia?

Patch has tracked down a few in the region so you can plan ahead and make reservations if necessary. While Easter is Sunday, March 31, many Easter egg hunts are held on other days leading up to Easter.

4. More Than 200 Pack Serial Groper Meeting Thursday Night in Springfield

Approximately 250 Springfield residents packed a Fairfax County Police community meeting Thursday night to discuss their concerns about a series of assaults — likely 22 in all — by a man dubbed "the serial groper," that have occurred throughout the Springfield area since September.

FCPD scheduled the meeting to update residents on the case and answer questions from concerned citizens.

Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay was in attendance and said he fully supports FCPD efforts to catch the suspect, who has been involved in a reported 22 incidents in the Greater Springfield area since September 2012. McKay said he was glad to see the turnout at the meeting and said that together, everyone will help FCPD catch the suspect.

3. Montgomery County Out as Potential HQ for FBI; Moran Touts Springfield Before Congress

The agency in charge of reviewing sites for the new location of FBI headquarters is currently reviewing responses to the recent request for information (RFI). According to the Office of Supervisor Jeff McKay, about 35 responses were received.

One of the six potential sites being considered is located in the Springfield area across from the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station. The new FBI facility will be the work location for about 11,000 people, according to The Huffington Post.

Springfield has one less entity competing for the headquarters.

2. Springfield Town Center Positioned to Offer More Retail in Region

The Springfield Mall transformation is currently still on schedule and construction leases will be complete by summer 2014, said Michael Schear, president of Vornado Realty Trust, according to a recent transcript on Seeking Alpha.

"I mentioned earlier in my opening remarks the Springfield Mall in Virginia is in the midst of a total transformation that will make it the dominant fashion offering for an affluent and underserved trade area in the south side of the D.C. Metro area," Schear said.

1. NCAA March Madness 2013: Printable Bracket, Predictions, Full Schedule

Trying to keep up with the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament? The Georgetown Hoyas are poised for a run that could get them farther into March Madness than they've been since at least 2007.


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