ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Public Information Office
2003 Mill Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
(703) 838-4636
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 24, 2004
Robinson Terminal Warehouse Offers $5000 Reward;
Police Continue to Seek Information in Vandalism Cases
Following two major acts of vandalism at one of their warehouses, the Robinson Terminal Warehouse is offering a $5000 reward for the arrest of those responsible. This reward is offered in addition to an Alexandria 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 north side door to gain entry. The suspect operated forklifts used at the facility to destroy cinder block walls, an office, and plumbing. Water from the damaged plumbing destroyed rolls of newsprint stored at the warehouse. Four forklifts were then dumped in the Potomac River; all were later recovered.
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 $6000.
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