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Ribbon Cutting
 
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NOTE: Franconia District Police Station is part of the Franconia Governmental Center but has a separate address, 7170 Silver Lake Blvd. It is located on the south side of the Governmental Center at the intersection of Silver Lake Blvd. and Beulah St.. |
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 Romanian Organized Crime
Fairfax County is often the target of organized theft and burglary groups working the I-95 corridor. One example is Romanian Organized Crime (ROC) crews that work nationwide – and worldwide – in a variety of illegal activities. One such ROC activity is serial theft like the “jewelry swap scam” used in a recent case in Franconia District.
In March 2026, the victim was returning her grocery store shopping cart when a SUV pulled up next to her in the parking lot. A female in the passenger seat called the victim to the vehicle. She began to converse with the victim about jewelry and placed a ring on the victim's finger. She then began to hug the victim and placed a cheap necklace around her neck while taking the victim’s expensive necklace in the process. The SUV, driven by a male, then departed before the victim realized that her necklace had been taken. Franconia CID responded to the scene and was able to identify the subject vehicle in security video. Tracking back in the video, the SUV was observed to circle the parking lot for several minutes before making contact with the victim - a known tactic of ROC jewelry scam crews.
The suspect vehicle was linked to another case on the same day in Reston Police District. The vehicle was also identified on the following day circling a location in Maryland but left before police could locate it. A lookout was passed nationwide to ROC theft investigators and later that day the vehicle was stopped in a shopping center in Delaware. The suspects were identified as Romanian and detained by Delaware State Police.
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This case and others like it elsewhere are a reminder that even in these days of phishing and other digital scams, old techniques like sleight of hand and practiced banter are still being used. Community members should be alert when approached by strangers and always report any incidents or suspicious activity that may occur.
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 Master Police Officer (MPO) Matthew Pleva is the March Franconia District Officer of the Month for his initiative, observation skills, and dedication to public safety while also taking into consideration the sensitivity of a religious event in progress.
On March 08, 2026, officers responded to the report of a burglary of an occupied residence in progress. The complainant provided a limited description of a possible suspect as being a slim black female wearing a red sweatshirt and dark pants. MPO Pleva observed a female vaguely matching the description while enroute to the scene.
After arriving on scene and obtaining an updated suspect description, MPO Pleva immediately recalled observing the individual walking down the street when he was enroute to the call several minutes prior. He rreturned to that location and observed the suspect entering a church that was in the middle of a service.
MPO Pleva contacted one of the members of the church and tactfully requested that the female be asked to come out and meet with him. Immediately, MPO Pleva was able to observe the stolen items inside of the suspect's bag and initiated an arrest. Even though the suspect did not match the initial description, MPO Pleva was able to identify the individual and take her into custody.
MPO Pleva showed initiative and excellent observation skills in a felony case. Additionally, MPO Pleva demonstrated resourcefulness and tact when interacting with community members at a religious institution. His calm demeanor and direction allowed an offender to be taken into custody without any disturbance to community members' religious activities. MPO Pleva’s actions reflect the highest standards of police service.
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