local digest

CRIME

Crime reported down in Montgomery

Crime in Montgomery County fell during the first half of 2009, continuing a trend that began late last year, according to police statistics released Tuesday.

In the first six months of the year, "Part I" crime, including murders, robberies and burglaries, fell by 7.4 percent.

When less-serious crimes are added to the mix, total crime dropped by 5 percent, according to police.

The drop was led by a significant reduction in automobile thefts. There were 749 such crimes reported in the first six months of 2009, compared with 1,204 in the first six months of 2008.

Montgomery recorded five homicides in the first part of 2009, compared with 10 for the same period a year earlier, police said.

-- Dan Morse

Woman held during Md. home invasion

A woman was held at gunpoint Tuesday during a home-invasion robbery in Oxon Hill, authorities said.

About 8 a.m., police were called to an apartment in the 1400 block of Southern Avenue by a woman who said she had been robbed, authorities said.

Investigators found that three men, at least two armed with guns, had broken into the woman's apartment and robbed her, then fled in a gray or blue Dodge Magnum, authorities said.