Police seek man who tried to enter woman’s car near Unique Thrift Store
Fairfax County Police are investigating a “suspicious event” that took place nearly three weeks ago at the Fairfax Plaza Shopping Center, 2950 Gallows Road, Merrifield, involving an intruder who tried to enter a woman’s car.
That is the same shopping center where Vanessa Pham was spotted, and possibly abducted, just minutes before she was stabbed to death in June 2010. That case is still unsolved.
According to a news release issued by the police Nov. 15, a 33-year-old woman was returning to her car after leaving the Unique Thrift Store at about 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27. As she got in her car, an unknown man entered the passenger side. She screamed and ran away, but realized she’d left her purse in the car and went back to get it. As she returned, the same man was standing at the driver’s side of her car but walked away toward Unique. The victim was not injured.
The police released a sketch of the intruder (above) and describe him as possibly Hispanic, in his 20s to 30s, 5 feet 10 inches, and about 160 pounds. The police would like to speak with the intruder, the occupants of a vehicle who stopped to help the victim, and anyone else in a surveillance video posted online.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Solvers 866/411-TIPS/8477, text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703/691-2131.
