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Undercover officers deployed in Tysons Corner to curtail uptick in crime

By Megan Cloherty

WASHINGTON — As another holiday shopping season begins, Fairfax County is
deploying its undercover team into the malls. This holiday
shopping season, police are asking shoppers to be extra-vigilant, saying crime
in the area has jumped.

They are called the Christmas Anti-Theft Team, or as Fairfax County Police Lt.
Chuck Riddle refers to them, the CATT team.

“We’re taking additional officers from regular duties or extra duties, such as
our neighborhood patrol unit or bike teams, and we’re putting them in the
mall,” Riddle says.

He says the 25-officer CATT team is reorganized every year
to deter seasonal crimes such as larceny, fraud and theft.

“In the McLean district, we will have at least a dozen officers patrolling
Tysons I and Tysons II,” Riddle says.

While the program is not new to the county, Riddle says the Tysons area has
seen an uptick in crime for 2014. It’s something he attributes to the arrival
of the Silver Line.

“Since we started operations on the Silver Line on July 26, we’ve seen a
tremendous increase in calls for service as well as criminal arrests,” Riddle
says.

It’s a conclusion that doesn’t add up to shopper Darien Salas: “I don’t know
why the Silver Line would add that to the area. So I’m surprised
to figure out that that’s happening.”

Fairfax County’s Urban Team, which Riddle runs, has seen an increase in
larcenies, shoplifting, ID
fraud and other crimes related to retail. Violent crime has not increased,
Riddle says.

In 2013, the McLean CATT team arrested 72 people, charged 107 felonies, 108
misdemeanors, and recovered more than $46,817 in stolen
property, during the holiday shopping season.

Police in Prince William and Fairfax counties are asking shoppers to be
smart during their trips and keep in mind that thieves thrive on distraction.

“You should not have your head buried in your phone. You should be up looking
around and be aware of the people around you,” he says.

More tips for shoppers from Prince William County Police:

  • Do not carry large amounts of cash, or more than two credit cards.
  • Wallets should be carried in a front pants pocket, rather than in a rear
    pants pocket or a jacket.

  • Consolidate purchases into one or two large shopping bags so you can keep
    track of everything.

  • Never leave your purchases unattended, even for a minute.
  • Try to not walk around shopping areas, banks and convenience stores alone.
  • Walk in well-lighted areas and avoid dark, unlit shortcuts.
  • While using an ATM, look around from time to time and be aware of what’s
    happening around you. If anything suspicious happens, immediately cancel your
    transaction and leave.

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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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