A resident noted police activity in the Highgate Community around 10:15 pm Thursday June 10, 2010. She was asked to return to her home while police with K9 dogs searched the area. On behalf of the resident, I asked Lt. Reiten, the police liaison to our community about the police activity and he provided the following information:

Good morning, the incident which led to our response was a purse
snatching in the 1500 block of Key Blvd. In this case the victim, a
female resident, was walking home from the Rosslyn Metro station when a
lone male came up from behind her and shoved her to the ground. During
the incident her purse was taken. Several neighbors came to her aid and
called us and we responded, set up a perimeter and deployed K-9 to try
and find the guy but were unsuccessful.

We continue to deploy our resources to Rosslyn but since the arrest last
week we have not had any similar robberies so hopefully this is just an
unfortunate isolated incident. The best way to make sure we do not have
more incidents like this is to put out the message that if a member of
the community sees someone that does not belong to call us to come check
them out. [The police non-emergency number is 703-558-2222.
You may wish to add this number to your mobile phone address book/contacts]
This often does not result in action as most of the time the
person is doing nothing wrong, but, if they were looking to do something
illegal and they interact with us due to the concern of the members of
the community they will move to another area where they can operate in
obscurity.

The only description that could be provided by the victim was that the
suspect was an African American male. I will pass on additional
information if it becomes available.

Lieutenant David M. Reiten
Arlington County Police Department
Operations Division, Acting 2nd District Commander
(703)228-4327