Unknown Adult Tries To Chat With Vienna Child On Gaming System

VIENNA, VA—With technology becoming so advanced, walking around in your neighborhood isn't the only danger your children face. Newer versions of video game systems like Playstation and Xbox have online chat options. While it's a convenient tool for children to connect with their friends, they could start chats with people they do not know.

That's what happened with a Vienna child on Friday, July 21. A father told Vienna Police an unknown adult tried to persuade his kid to chat online through the gaming system. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

The FBI offers the following tips to help children avoid suspicious people online:

• If you suspect something, talk to your child and warn them about the dangers of computer-sex offenders.
• Review what is on your child's device.
• Monitor your child's online communications, such as chat rooms, instant messages and Internet Relay Chat. Computer-sex offenders almost always meet potential victims via chat rooms. After meeting a child on-line, they will continue to communicate electronically potentially through email.

Other notable incidents in the June 21-27 Town of Vienna crime report are:

Fraud 17-006356
300 Block Broadleaf Drive, NE
Between July 5 12:00 p.m. and July 13 5:21 p.m.
A resident reported that someone used his personal information to request financial government assistance.

1400 Block Patrick Circle, SW
Between July 21 3:30 p.m. and July 24 9:00 a.m.
A citizen reported that someone was able to make entry through an unsecured window into a house under construction. The unknown subject left empty beer bottles and a broken window

Arrest – Driving While Intoxicated 17-006819
500 Block Beulah Road, NE
July 26 11:03 p.m.
Ofc. Reedy observed a driver commit a series of traffic violations and initiated a traffic stop. Upon his interaction with the driver the officer detected signs of impairment. Ofc. Reedy placed the driver under arrest after he failed to successfully complete a series of field sobriety tests.

Ofc. Reedy transported the 35-year-old man from Barnswallow Court in Sterling, Virginia to the Vienna Police Station where he was offered the opportunity to provide a sample of his breath for analysis, which he did. The driver was then transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he was charged with Driving While Intoxicated.

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