Community Corner

Weird News: Panda Cam Returns, Kindle Prompts Assault and Familiar Faces in Robbery Footage

Plus, dog-gnawed shoe art and a burglar home alone? Not so much.

By Greg Hambrick

Editor's Note: Patch has 31 sites in Virginia and D.C., and not a day goes by that something weird isn't happening somewhere in the area. Here's a look back at some weird goings-on over the past week.

Vincent Van Dog: Dogs destroy many shoes, but rarely do you get $378 out of the results. The half eaten shoe by Jack the Canine Artist recently sold on eBay for $378, said owner Terrence Nowlin. A Dalmation mix, Jack recently managed to eat a portion of the left foot to a $200 pair of Cole Haan wingtips. Instead of being upset, Nowlin posted the shoe on eBay for fun.

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We’ll Leave the Light Off For You: In the early-morning hours Oct. 12, a home burglary was foiled in Greater Alexandria when the burglar realized the call to police was coming from inside the house. Fairfax County Police say once the burglar found the resident was at home, the unknown suspect fled.

Hey, I Know Those Kids!: Maybe you could get away with something like this in L.A. or New York City, but not in one of our small Northern Virginia communities. Two juveniles who allegedly robbed a Herndon business found themselves arrested later the same day when police officers who reviewed the security footage recognized the suspects.

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Angry Baby Bird: A 16-year-old is accused of hitting his mother in the head with a frying pan after she refused to let him use her Kindle, according to Arlington County Police. The Ballston teen was charged with malicious wounding and damage to property.

Great Caper Clips: Prince William County Police are investigating a theft at Salon Centric studio in Woodbridge. Officers found the glass front door busted out and the building empty. The missing items includes multiple hair clippers, valued at $1,300.

Police are Everywhere, Perps: A 35-year-old Alexandria man was arrested this week for threatening a hospital employee with a BB gun, according to police. The incident at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital was addressed quickly by police officers at the hospital on unrelated business.

Back With an Insanely Cute Vengeance: Living vicariously through the National Zoo’s Pandas? Welcome back from hibernation. Before the government shutdown, the last we saw on the panda cam was tiny little rat-looking Mei Xiang. The cameras went dark for more than two weeks. Now, the panda cam is back on and the cub now looks nothing like a rat and more like something resembling a panda. Maybe they can save the next shutdown for those awkward teen panda years.

Have Keys, Will Travel: A man had his car stolen from in front of his Manassas home Friday morning. The victim told police he turned on his vehicle and left it running while he briefly went back inside his house. He returned a few minutes later and discovered his white 2003 Pontiac Grand AM was missing.

Beacon Hill Bandit Busted: After six robberies of the same TD Bank on Richmond Highway by the Beacon Hill Bandit, police say they finally have their suspect. Officers arrested Carlton Thorne Jr. 48, who is also suspected in the robbery of another TD Bank in Annandale.


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