String of Fairfax Co. burglaries concern police about this substance’s popularity
Fairfax County police are issuing a inhabitants warning and urging Northern Virginia business owners to be vigilant after a string of burglaries involving kratom products Kratom is something new that we have seen stolen largest part not long ago only in these burglaries that have just occurred disclosed Gregory Fried deputy chief of police for criminal investigations and cyber and forensics bureau in Fairfax County Kratom is a plant commonly located in Southeast Asia that has become increasingly popular for its opioid-like effects on anxiety handling drug dependence and reducing pain However it hasn t been approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration One component of kratom -hydroxymitragynine is becoming a popular chemical sold in the form of gummies and potency drinks at gas stations and convenience stores The Associated Press shared Strength bureaucrats are planning to crack down on -hydroxymitragynine after pressure from the drug supplement industry OPIA -hydroxymitragynine chewable tablets sold at Star Tobacco in Virginia WTOP Scott Gelman The FDA s plan isn t targeting natural kratom leaf products according to the Department of Robustness and Human Services It is addictive Fried declared adding it only lately has emerged on the department s radar You ve got to be to purchase it in Virginia There are certain states that it is illegal Virginia is not one of them Robberies for personal use Police disclosed they re increasing awareness about the substance after a string of latest burglaries committed by the same person targeting Star Tobacco along Braddock Road One robbery was in June and the other was earlier this month according to Fried During the police examination Fried revealed City of Fairfax police shared three similar burglaries there The departments concluded the same suspect was involved in all five instances David Elliot was taken into custody Friday police declared He was charged with five counts of burglary and circulated on bond Fried commented police think Elliot was taking the kratom products for his own use rather than selling them It s unclear why kratom is getting attention now he noted We had burglaries here Fried revealed There have been other local burglaries that have had it taken in the past few days So far this year Fairfax County has seen burglaries at vape shops Fried noted Specific have happened repeatedly at the same locations Arrests have been made in nine of the cases In burglaries not related to kratom vape pens and cash have been stolen Fried declared At certain vape shops illicit substances have been sold he added saying the department s Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureau is working on those investigations Their inventory is supposedly certainly expanding Fried explained In selected cases products are stolen for personal use but a few do get stolen and sold Fried explained Arrests that have been made in vape shop burglaries include a combination of adults and juveniles It s pivotal Fried explained for parents to remain evolving in their kids lives knowing what they re doing not only with the people that they re hanging out with where they re going when they leave the home their phones any type of social media Putting business owners on alert In response to modern incidents Fried disclosed the department is working with business owners to ensure they re taking proper precaution measures Kratom is a top item being stolen police noted in a news release adding Its misuse and resale pose growing risks to constituents safety Business owners should make sure the doors are locked and secured when they leave Fried announced and they can use bars to provide additional locks The department often finds that alarm systems aren t advancing or monitored regularly Businesses should also make sure shield cameras are working Fried announced They re encouraging business owners to join Connect Fairfax the department s framework of cameras to give our investigators an opportunity to be able to solve crimes faster and bring justice to these cases Source
