York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office deputies conducting saturation patrols following a string of residential burglaries around Tabb may have located a suspect last week, but the person was able to escape.
Nine burglaries or attempted burglaries have been reported around Tabb since July 17. At about 10:30 p.m. Aug. 7, a caller reported a blue Subaru with a dark hood scoop and a loud exhaust — one of the vehicles suspected to be involved has a loud muffler — making loops in the Marlbank Farms subdivision near Yorktown, according to a post on the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
Deputies found the vehicle on Old York-Hampton Highway, but by the time they could turn around to close in on the car, the driver sped off. The Subaru then turned onto Old Wormley Creek Road, entering a long driveway to a home on the road before stopping the car and fleeing on foot.
A “dragnet” was established in the area, according to the post, but the driver of the Subaru was able to escape. The Subaru was later determined to have been stolen from a Virginia Beach car dealership. The keys to the car were acquired when someone threw a brick through the window of the dealership, a method of entry used on several of the houses in Tabb.
The Subaru had license plates belonging to a different vehicle, though they had not yet been reported stolen. Investigators were able to recover from the Subaru fingerprints and a few items that may contain DNA evidence, according to the post.
Investigators are also pursuing a potential connection to Newport News. During a traffic stop performed by Newport News Police on Monday, an iPad reported stolen from one of the houses in Tabb was recovered. YPSO investigators are following up on that lead today, according to the post.
The burglaries or attempted burglaries have taken place in neighborhoods that include Running Man, Coventry, Greenlands, Patriot Village, Sherwood Forest, Hawks Landing and Taylor Farms.
Along with a dark sedan with a loud muffler, witnesses have also reported seeing a two-door car with a spoiler, a light green sport utility vehicle or crossover and a white four-door car. One victim reported seeing inside his or her home an approximately 6-foot male with curly hear wearing red sweatpants and a black T-shirt.
Anyone who hears glass breaking or suspicious noises and thinks someone could possibly be in his or her home is encouraged to call 911 immediately. Information on the burglaries should be directed to Crime Stoppers at 888-LOCK-U-UP.
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