On September 14, at approximately 1:38 a.m., the Winchester Police Department arrested Jeremy Andrew Nichols, 19, of Frederick County, and Tanner Clayton Allen, 18, of Winchester, on charges of grand larceny. Officers responded to the area of Opequon Avenue and Parkview Avenue where the suspects were reported to have been illegally entering vehicles, taking cash and items of various worth.
The WPD was alerted by a witness in the area that two white males were opening car doors and taking items from inside. Officers later approached Nichols and Allen on Pleasant Valley Road after matching them to the description supplied by the witness. The investigation led police back to the vehicles from which they had taken the cash and other items. All items were returned to their proper owners. Nichols and Allen were placed under arrest and transported to the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center.
Since January 2017, the Winchester Police Department has received 66 reports of theft from vehicles, which averages about 2 reports per week to date. The WPD would like to remind the community of the importance of locking vehicles, even in private driveways. Do not store cash or items of value in vehicles. If it is necessary to do so for a short period of time, remember to place the items out of view or lock them in the trunk of the car.