Crime & Safety

Germantown Man Among 6 Charged in North Potomac Heists

Burglars stole $100,000 worth of goods from 30 homes, according to Montgomery County Police.

A North Potomac burglary spree that netted more than $100,000 worth of loot led to the arrest of six people, including a man from Germantown, Montgomery County Police said Thursday.

David Cho, 19, of the 11700 block of Cider Press Place in Germantown, is out on bond and has a hearing scheduled Friday, police said.

He and three other men were charged with numerous counts of first-degree burglary, fourth-degree burglary, conspiracy, malicious destruction of property and the associated theft charges.

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Police said Ernest James Jeffreys, 20, of the 11100 block of Captains Walk Court in Gaithersburg, is out on bond and is awaiting a March 1 court hearing.

According to District Court records accessed online, Tita Ntemgwa Fontava, 21, of the 14000 block of Pellita Terrace, has been charged with 56 counts of burglary, theft, property destruction and related conspiracy charges.

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Fontava is being held on $20,000 bail and is awaiting a March 1 court hearing. His bail was initially $85,000, the court records show.

Two Rockville teens and a North Potomac teen faced similar charges, Montgomery County police said on Thursday. Patch does not release the names of minors.

Montgomery County Police are investigating a series of daytime and nighttime residential burglaries that have occurred since May 2012, with most incidents reported in August 2012.

Police said the suspects targeted more than 30 homes Travilah Road, south of Darnestown Road, gaining entry by forcing open windows and doors.

Jewelry, cash and small electronic items such as computers and cell phones were taken.

Police were tipped off on Jan. 8, while responding to reports of a suspicious person knocking on doors in the area of Dufief Mill Road and Lake Winds Way.

A short time later, officers found a vehicle in the area with the person who fit the suspect’s description, as well as three other males, and determined that all of them were linked to the burglaries.

Police said additional suspects were arrested and $45,000 worth of property was recovered.

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Police said the investigation is ongoing and have asked people with information to call Montgomery County police’s Rockville Investigative Section at 240-773-6084.


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