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Crime Report: ‘I See What You Did There’ Edition

By WTOP Staff

A burglar broke into a store in the Courthouse area this past weekend and made off with a pair of laptops. But it’s the other item that he or she took that seems to suggest a level of trickiness beyond the capabilities of your run-of-the-mill criminal.

BURGLARY (COMMERCIAL), 08/12/12, 2400 block of Wilson Boulevard. Between 2 and 9:30 am on August 12, an unknown subject(s) kicked in the front door of a business and stole two laptops and the store surveillance equipment. There is no suspect(s) description.

Elsewhere, someone broke into a medical office and swiped several items, including blank prescription pads. The office is located on the same block as Virginia Hospital Center.

BURGLARY, 08/09/12, 1600 block of N. George Mason Drive. Between 7:15 pm on August 8 and 7:51 am on August 9, an unknown subject(s) entered a locked office and stole various items to include cash, laptops, blank prescription pads and sample prescription packs. There is no suspect(s) description.

The rest of this week’s Arlington County crime report, after the jump.

MALICIOUS WOUNDING (STABBING), 08/09/12, 3300 block of N. Wilson Boulevard. At 1:38 pm on August 9, an adult male confronts a subject attempting to break into his vehicle and a physical altercation ensues. The victim is stabbed multiple times in the upper body with a knife and the subject flees the scene. The subject is described as a Hispanic male, between 28-32 years of age, approximately 5’9” tall and 150 lbs. He has medium length dark hair and was wearing a white tshirt with dark jeans.

ROBBERY BY FORCE, 08/11/12, 1200 block of S. Hayes Street. On August 11 at 4:25 pm, the loss prevention manager of a mall store witnessed an unknown subject stealing several watches from an accessories stand. Upon approaching the man, the subject brandished a knife and threatened the store employee. The subject fled the scene on foot. He is described as a black male and was wearing a grey polo shirt, blue jeans and a white baseball hat at the time of the incident.

SEXUAL ASSAULT, 08/12/12, 2700 block of Wilson Boulevard. At 1:50 pm on August 12, a female shopper bent down to retrieve a bottle of wine in a grocery store when a male placed his hand between her legs and on her genitalia. The subject laughed and walked away from the scene. Police located the subject approximately 4 hours later sleeping on a public bench, with a number of pornography magazines in his possession. Once in the police interview room, the subject repeatedly masturbated. Frank Alex Bouknight, 24, of Washington, DC, was arrested and charged with sexual battery.

STRANGULATION, 08/11/12, 2800 block of N. 24th Street. Between 11:15 and 11:45 pm on August 6, a male subject strangled and repeatedly assaulted his pregnant ex-girlfriend when she attempted to retrieve her belongings from his residence. The victim sustained numerous bodily injuries from the assault. Alexander Ludan, 24, of Arlington, VA, was arrested and charged with strangulation and domestic assault and battery.

BURGLARY, 08/10/12, 1700 block of S. Taylor Street. On August 10 at 12:18 pm, an Arlington resident reported that her residence was broken into on August 4 by an unknown subject(s). Cash and a laptop were reported missing. There is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY, 08/11/12, 2400 block of N. Florida Street. Between 6 pm on August 10 and 10 am on August 11, an unknown subject(s) broke into a residence through a backdoor and stole a safe. The safe contained jewelry and other items of value. There is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY (COMMERCIAL), 08/13/12, 5000 block of Wilson Boulevard. Between 12:30 and 9:55 am on August 13, an unknown subject(s) smashed a rear glass door of a restaurant to gain entry and stole the cash register drawer with approximately $3,000. There is no suspect(s) description.

STOLEN VEHICLES

08/09/12, VA XRK 6785, 2003 Ford E250, White, 700 block of N. Monroe Street
08/12/12, DC MR1998, 2007 Kawasaki Ninja Motorcycle, Black, 5000 block of S. 7th Road
08/13/12, MD 87316CA (tags only), 5100 block of S. 8th Road
08/13/12, VA RUTH99, 2002 Isuzu Rodeo, Gold, 2500 block of S. Adams Street
08/14/12, MD 4AG7714, 2010 Mercury Grand Marquise, Silver, 2600 block of S. Jefferson Davis Highway
08/14/12, VA XJS2326, 1994 Chevy Geo, Blue, 5500 block of Columbia Pike


Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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