Crime & Safety
Vandalism Strikes the North Potomac-Darnestown Area
Police say community help is needed to report incidents.
Several neighborhoods were hit with a string of graffiti-oriented vandalism this summer, but the perpetrators have not been found.
The majority of these incidents consisted of spray-painted mailboxes at private residences. The Christian Life Center on Darnestown Road was also hit.
On Aug. 1 the letters BORF were written on a sign at the Christian Life Center on 11180 Darnestown Road. In addition, several months ago a spray-painted face appeared on the main Christian Life Center banner that can be seen from the Darnestown Road entrance. Under the face, the letters BORF were written.
Elizabeth Smith of Christian Life Center said that they did not alert the police.
"The damages are not really offensive. It's just a waste of money because we end up having to replace the signs," Smith said. "I don't think it's too damaging to the community though."
In 2004 and 2005, John Tsombikos of Great Falls was linked to an extensive graffiti campaign around the Washington metro area marked by the words BORF and the stenciled face. It is unclear whether this incident is related.
On July 31 and Aug. 1, residents of Tern Drive in North Potomac found graffiti painted on a mailbox. The letters "HOCI" were written in black paint, and a scribble of white paint was also reported.
That same weekend the letters "KES" were also painted in black on a mailbox on Norman Drive in North Potomac. Both of these mailboxes have either been cleaned or replaced.
The Montgomery County Police said they are not aware of many of these incidents because they have not been reported.
"Whenever an act of vandalism is reported to the Montgomery County Police, we take it very seriously and investigate. However, these sort of investigations are different, because we need assistance from community members in reporting suspicious persons, vehicles or behaviors", said Lucille Baur of the Montgomery County Police media services.
A majority of the graffiti that occurred has been taken down, including the letters BORF written on the Christian Life Center sign. But the spray-painted face on the entrance banner remained as of the reporting of this story.
To report incidents in the Potomac area call the district police center at (240) 773-6070 or the non-emergency line at (301) 279-8000. The Montgomery County Police are not currently investigating any of the mentioned incidents of vandalism.