Update: Armed Robbery Linked To 3 Pentagon City Carjackings

UPDATE (Feb 5, 5:20 p.m.): Arlington County Police now say that a Jan. 19 armed robbery is being investigated in connection with a series of three armed carjackings that took place over the last three weeks in Pentagon City, according to a police release.

On Jan. 19, around 5:25 p.m., a citizen flagged down an officer on patrol in the 800 block of Army Navy Drive. The citizen told the officer that between 5:05 p.m. and 5:20 p.m., she was sitting in her parked vehicle when an unknown individual pointed a firearm at her and demanded her cellphone. He then fled the scene on foot with her phone. The suspect is described as a black male in his late teens to early 20s. He was wearing dark pants and a dark colored sweater with a hoodie pulled over his head.

Police report that two of the three vehicles stolen in the armed carjackings were later recovered in Washington, D.C.

ACPD detectives are investing all four cases and trying to determine whether they are linked to each other or other cases reported in the region.

Earlier reporting ...

ARLINGTON, VA -- Arlington County Police are investigating the third armed carjacking to occur in Pentagon City in two weeks, according to the daily crime report.

Police responded to the latest report of an armed carjacking on Tuesday, Feb. 4, around 11:39 p.m., to the 1100 block of S. Joyce Street. Officers learned that 20 minutes earlier the victim was approached by a suspect as he was exiting his vehicle. The suspect pointed a firearm, demanded the victim's keys and personal belongings, and then fled the scene in the victim's vehicle.

The suspect is described as a black male, about 6 feet in height, and aged 20-30 years old, with a thin build. He has a dark complexion and low voice, and was wearing a black coat. Police describe the victim's vehicle as a blue Honda Accord with Virginia tags, UYN7195.

Tuesday's armed carjacking follows two similar incidents that occurred recently in Pentagon City. On Thursday, Jan. 30, around 10:15 p.m., a suspect stole a gray Toyota Corolla in to the 800 block of Army Navy Drive. A week earlier, on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 1:50 p.m., a suspect stole a black Mercedes C300 at gunpoint in the 1100 block of S. Hayes Street.

Detectives from ACPD's Homicide/Robbery Unit are investigating all three carjackings and working to determine what, if any, connection exists between them, according to Kirby Clark, ACPD communications specialist.

Police ask anyone with information about any of these incidents to contact Detective S. King at 703-228-4243 or seking@arlingtonva.us. Anonymous tips may be submitted through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at ‪1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

According to ACPD, some of the victims reported spending time inside their vehicles prior to the carjackings. Police recommend limiting the time sent in a parked car in a garage. They also provided the following safety tips for the public:

• Be aware of your surroundings
• Park in well-lit areas, high traffic areas
• Limit your use of devices that may distract you, such as cell phones and head phones
• Don’t leave items unattended in vehicles
• If you see something suspicious, report to the Emergency Communications Center at 703-558-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency