In a recent summary of the Richmond Police Department's patrol activity, a series of incidents involving vehicle-related crimes have peppered the local law enforcement's logbook. During the week of March 18 through March 24, Richmond officers have been on their toes, responding to a variety of service calls indicative of the area's struggles with stolen vehicles and related crimes.
According to a post on the department's Facebook page, the first of these incidents occurred on March 18, when a Flock alert led officers to a stolen vehicle, eventually recovered and the driver arrested without a hassle. Following suit, another stolen vehicle was reclaimed by authorities on March 19, with the aid of a Flock notification and an uneventful arrest.
The week continued with an incident on March 20, where a DUI collision on 23rd St and Lincoln Ave drew the police's attention. The driver, found to be intoxicated at more than twice the legal limit, was taken to a hospital after giving a breath sample, cited for DUI, and then released to the hospital's care.
On March 21, two notable incidents transpired. First, responding to a Flock alert for yet another stolen vehicle, the police managed to recover the car and made an arrest without incident. In a more disquieting occurrence, a ShotSpotter activation on the 200 block of S. 3rd St later that day informed officers of gunfire, who discovered spent casings and property damage but, by fortune's good grace, no casualties or injuries.
A report of carjacking on March 23 marked a violent deviation from the pattern of thefts. Perpetrated against an individual intending to make a deposit, the theft was more personal—wallet, cellphone, backpack—all taken before the victim's vehicle was stolen. Assisted by another agency, the stolen vehicle was intercepted, and the suspects were apprehended.
The week closed out with another pursuit on March 24 when officers, alerted to a stolen vehicle by the now-familiar Flock system, gave chase. Their tactical use of stop sticks slowed the fleeing car, allowing them to take the suspects into custody and recover the embezzled leased vehicle without turmoil, ending the week's string of vehicular crimes on a note of swift police work.
