[Archived] Reward Offered in Robinson Terminal Investigation;

ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Public Information Office
2003 Mill Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
(703) 838-4636

MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 17, 2004

Reward Offered in Robinson Terminal Investigation;
Police Seek Information in Cases of Major Vandalism

After two major acts of vandalism at a Robinson Terminal warehouse, Alexandria detectives are encouraging tipsters to come forward with information by offering a Crime Solvers reward of up to $1000. In the past month, vandals have caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the warehouse, which is owned by The Washington Post Company.

Located at 1 Oronoco Street, the warehouse was first targeted between 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 29, and 5 a.m. on Friday, July 30. In that case, someone forced open a door on the north side of the building and, operating forklifts used at the facility, destroyed cinder block walls, an office, and plumbing. Four forklifts were then dumped in the Potomac River. Water from the damaged plumbing destroyed rolls of newsprint stored at the warehouse. The forklifts were later recovered from the river.

Then on Tuesday, August 10, around 3:12 a.m., police and fire personnel responded to the same facility for a fire. Investigation reveals that the suspect(s) most likely entered the same way. Once inside, they ransacked an office, drove two forklifts from the building, driving one through a loading bay door, before dumping both in the Potomac. The suspect(s) also set fire to rolls of newsprint but a fire suppression system extinguished the fire before more extensive damage occurred. The forklifts were again pulled from the Potomac.

In total, police and warehouse officials conservatively estimate the damage to be more than $300,000. This is the largest case of property destruction in recent Alexandria history. Detectives have not determined a motive for the vandalism but do believe both cases are connected.

Anyone with information about the suspect(s) or motive is urged to contact Alexandria investigators at 703.838.4711 or Alexandria Crime Solvers at 703.838.4858. Callers can remain anonymous, and if information they provide leads to an arrest or indictment, they are eligible for a reward of up to $1000.

(end)