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Crime Report: Taxis Stolen

By WTOP Staff

Yellow taxi cab in Pentagon CityHard-driven, high-mileage taxicabs might not seem like a very attractive target for car thieves, but in the past week three have been stolen from the same block of Columbia Pike.

Arlington County auto crimes detectives are “actively engaged in” an investigation into the thefts, said ACPD spokesman Dustin Sternbeck, who couldn’t recall any other taxi thefts in Arlington in the past year. The cabs all had D.C. tags and ranged in model year from 1998 to 2004.

From the stolen vehicle portion of this week’s crime report:

01/23/13, DC 01232H, 2004 Ford Crown Victoria (Taxi), White/Yellow, 5500 block of S. Columbia Pike
01/23/13, DC H95014, 2002 Ford Crown Victoria (Taxi), Blue, 5500 block of S. Columbia Pike
01/28/13, DC H87744, 1998 Ford Crown Victoria (Taxi), Blue and Gray, 5500 block of S. Columbia Pike

Also in this week’s crime report, a woman was grabbed from behind while walking home from the Ballston Metro station. Her purse was stolen but she was otherwise physically uninjured.

ROBBERY, 01/24/13, 4400 block of N. 4th Street. At 11:53 pm on January 23, as a female victim was walking home from the Ballston Metro station alone, she was approached from behind by a male subject who placed his hand over her face and grabbed her purse. The subject fled the scene on foot and was not located. He is described as a black male, approximately 5’7” tall and 160 lbs. He was wearing a black wool coat, dark jeans, knit hat, light colored scarf and dark gloves at the time of the incident.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

File photo

ROBBERY, 01/27/13, 700 block of N. Glebe Road. At 2:43 pm on January 27, two subjects entered a store together and attempted to steal merchandise by placing items in a bag. The two subjects were confronted by loss prevention while trying to leave the store with the stolen merchandise. The female subject struck a loss prevention employee and attempted to flee by foot. Sarah Karam, 22, of Arlington, VA was arrested and charged with robbery. She is being held without bond. Fahad Algour, 27, of Falls Church, VA was arrested and charged with grand larceny and is being held on a $2,000 secure bond.

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 01/26/13, 1200 block of S. Courthouse Road. At 8:10 pm on January 26, a suspect and victim got into a verbal altercation outside of an apartment. The argument escalated into a physical fight, and the suspect stabbed the victim. The victim was transported to George Washington Hospital for treatment of his stab wounds. The victim’s injuries were non life-threatening. Derek Warren Straughn, 57, of Arlington, VA was arrested and charged with malicious wounding. He is currently being held without bond.

BURGLARY, 01/23/13, 800 block of N. Abingdon Street. Between 12:45 and 1:15 pm on January 23, an unknown subject(s) entered a locked residence and stole various items to include electronics and cash. There is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY, 01/24/13, 700 block of S. Adams Street. Between 11:30 am and 1:50 pm on January 24, an unknown subject(s) entered a locked residence. It is unknown at this time if anything was stolen. There is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY, 01/26/13, 600 block of N. Abingdon Street. Between 10 am and 11:37 pm on January 25, an unknown subject(s) broke into a residence. The subject(s) forced entry by prying open a basement door. The entire house was rummaged through and several items were stolen from the residence. There is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY, 01/27/13, 2200 block of S. Pollard Street. Between 9 am on January 25 and 9:02 pm on January 27, an unknown subject(s) broke into a residence. The subject(s) gained entry into the home by smashing a sliding glass door. The unknown subject(s) stole a gun belonging to the victim. Nothing else appeared to be stolen. There is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY, 01/28/13, 1500 block of N. Wilson Boulevard. Between 5 pm on January 18 and 10:55 am on January 28, an unknown subject(s) broke into a commercial building. The suspect(s) used a tool to force entry into a room within the building and stole eight laptops. There is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY, 01/28/13, 2500 block of N. Wilson Boulevard. Between 6:30 pm on January 25 and 11:19 am on January 28, an unknown subject(s) broke into a commercial building. The subject(s) forced entry into an office using a tool. Two laptops were stolen. There is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY, 01/28/13, 3900 block of N. 5th Street. At 11:20 am on January 28, two suspects were seen breaking into a residence by a neighbor. Both subjects were taken into custody following a foot pursuit. Stolen items, including electronics and jewelry, were found on the subjects and returned to the owners. Ladell Powell, 20, of no fixed address, and Anthony Bryant Jr., 19, of Beaumont, VA, were arrested and charged with burglary.

STOLEN VEHICLES

01/23/13, VA XFD-2666, 2003 Chevrolet Econoline, White, 1100 block of S. Wakefield Street
01/25/13, IL K197616, 2006 Honda Civic, Grey, 300 block of N. Madison Street
01/27/13, VA WXL3037, 2001 Toyota Camry, Silver, 900 block of S. Wakefield Street
01/28/13, VA XEV4370, 2011 Ford E-250 Econoline Van, White, 4200 block of S. Four Mile Run Drive
01/28/13, VA XDB1830, 2001 Ford CVC, Silver, 1200 block of S. Courthouse Road
01/28/13, VA 727157, 2008 Suzuki GXR 600 (Motorcycle), Black, 1200 block of S. Courthouse Road
01/28/13, VA KHA3185, 2001 Ford E150 Van, White, 4100 block of S. Columbia Pike

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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