Police Arrest Maryland Man for December String of Robberies in Tenleytown

The string of robberies committed between December 4 - 9 in the Tenleytown/Friendship Heights area has been solved, according to the Second District Police, resulting in the arrest of a Maryland man with a criminal record.  Here's the word directly from MPD officer Michael Reese:

Kudos to Second District Detective Neal Jones for closing four robbery cases. Through investigation three robbery cases that were committed on December 4, 2010, and one robbery case committed on December 9, 2010, (3000 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW, 4300 block Jenifer Street NW, 5200 block 43rd Street NW, and the 4100 block of Harrison Street NW) are now closed. Detective Jones was able to follow up on investigative leads and develop the case against the suspect. The perpetrator was arrested yesterday without incident on a warrant. He has a criminal arrest record. I would like to thank Detective Jones for his dedication and hard work.

Ward 3 Crime Summit on Thursday, January 13

ANC 3E will devote the first part of its meeting on Thursday, January 13, to crime in Ward 3. The meeting will take place at St. Columba's church at 4201 Albermarle Street, NW at 8pm.

Councilmember Mary Cheh, outgoing Second District Commander Matt Klein, incoming Commander Michael E. Reese, Commander of the Investigative Division, Danny Hickson, and Assistant Chief Diane Groomes will be in attendance. MPD Officials will discuss crime in the area, what the police have done to respond, and what else will be done. There will be a question and answer period following the presentations.  All residents are invited, not just those in ANC 3E.

Here are the details:

Community Crime Summit
St. Columba’s Church
4201 Albermarle Street, NW
Thursday, January 13 at 8pm

Home Robbed in NW DC: Burglar Puts Knife to Resident's Throat

Saturday we reported on a rash of armed robberies in NW DC. There was another viiolent crime in Northwest DC on Sunday. Here is the police report about a homeowner who had her Nebraska Avenue, NW home broken into:

At approximately 5:15 PM on Sunday, a citizen in the 4800 block of Nebraska Avenue, NW. was awakened by a subject entering her home through the front door. The subject produced a knife and forced her into a closet. After cutting her phone lines, the subject stole some household items and a small amount of US currency. The suspect was described as a black male, 35 years of age, 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 190-200 pounds. He was described further as having brown eyes and black hair. He was of a medium build and with a medium complexion. He was last seen fleeing on foot dressed in brown pants and a brown jacket.

Shortly thereafter, an establishment in the 5000 block of Connecticut Avenue was robbed at gunpoint. The suspect in this offense was described as a black male, 40-45 years of age, medium complexioned and weighing 170-190 pounds. He was further described as having a medium build, a slight beard and brown eyes. He was also wearing a black hat at the time of the offense. He was last seen fleeing on foot.

More iPhone Thefts in DC

There have been a rash iPhone robberies in the District. Here's the report from Second District Police Commander Matt Klein, which he posted today. If you own an iPhone (or other smartphone), it's a good idea to have a traking app, so that if your phone is stolen or lost, you can locate it. It's terrible to have your phone snatched, but there's some satisfaction in knowing that the police can find your phone, along with the person who stole it.

Over the weekend, there were at least four street-level robberies involving iPhones. In each case, the suspects approached the victim that was either talking or carrying the phone, and snatched it before running away. The robberies occurred in various areas of the Second District, including:

o 1500 Block of 15th Street, NW

o 1200 Block of Riggs Place, NW

o 1500 Block of T Street, NW

o 2300 Block of L Street, NW

We're seeing folks getting phones snatched away as they walk down the street, or grabbed from tables while sitting at restaurants. Although the vast majority of these offenses do not involve physical harm to the victim, this is a continuing trend that deserves attention.

As always, I'm asking folks to be aware of their surroundings, especially while walking down the street and talking on the phone (try and avoid doing that if you are walking alone at night). Do not leave your phone lying on a table while dining out as this may also attract would-be thieves.

Breaking News: Robberies in Upper NW, DC

by Lindsay Chastain

There have been two robberies this morning in upper Northwest, DC at 16th and Primrose Road and 14th and Aspen Street. The suspects are believed to be two black males, approximately 19-20 years old, and about 5'6". One suspect has short hair and the other dreadlocks. It is believed that these suspects are armed and driving a gray Lexus. Anyone with information regarding the robberies or the suspects should contact 1-888-919-CRIME.

Burglary in Takoma Park DC Sunday Morning

A burglar broke into a home early this morning in Takoma Park. Here is the firsthand report from the homeowner whose house was broken into from the Takoma Park Listserv. The burglar entered the home through an unlocked door.

I live on Harlan Place, NW between Whittier and Van Buren. This morning someone broke into the house (well, the back door was unlocked) and took the purse that was on the dinning room table. When the intruder was discovered by my dad, who had been sleeping on the couch downstairs, the intruder threw an object at him and then left out the back door. The police were called and they said that there were several incidents like this on my block. The purse that was stolen had a red cell phone in it, a set of car/ work keys and a red wallet.

Robbery in the 4th District Tuesday Night

by Lindsay Chastain

A robbery took place early last night in the 4th District of DC on the 800 block of Kennedy Street. A woman was approached by three suspects who grabbed her purse and ran. Local officers pursued the suspects and were able to apprehend one juvenile male. MPD officers are still looking for the other suspects. If you have any information about this robbery or other crimes in the 4th District please contact (202) 715-7400.

Robber Apprehended in DC

by Lindsay Chastain

Fourth District Police Officers arrested a man for robbery at about 9:30pm Wednesday night. Police witnessed the man on the 3700 block of New Hampshire Avenue come behind a female victim, steal her purse, and run. Police then apprehended the suspect and put him under arrest.

Be cautious and alert when walking alone at night. The police may not always be near.

Beware the Booeymonger Thieves

Photo by Shawn Honnick

Turn on your third eye and pay attention to your surroundings. You don't have to be kind to strangers by lending them your iPhone to be robbed. Thieves will take almost any opportunity that's available, and if you provide them with one, say goodbye to your belongings. Here's what happened,as reported on Communite-E to an unaware victim at the Booeymonger restaurant on Wisconsin Avenue and Jenifer Street, NW.

On Tuesday, October 12 at about 1:30 pm, two very sophisticated thieves opened my purse and removed two credit cards from my wallet --that was in a zipped compartment-- and an envelope containing cash that was in a second zipped compartment. I must have hung the purse over the back of my chair, not a good thing to do.

Home Burglaries on the Increase in the 2nd District MPD

There's been an uptick in burglaries in the Second District. While we sleep, robbers have been breaking into our homes, especially in the wee hours.  Here is the update from Detective Alan Hill on what you can do to prevent your home from being robbed:

The Second District has experienced residential burglaries over the last week. These burglaries have been clustered around the northern end of the Second District (PSA 201, 202,203) in areas such as the 3900 to 3400 blocks of Harrison, Morrison and have extended down Connecticut Ave around Van Ness Street.

These burglaries have taken place mostly in the early morning hours between 1:00am and 5:00am. The common element in most of these burglaries is that the individual enters the rear of the home from an alleyway and checks for unlocked doors and windows. Once inside the individual(s) are removing electronic items and personal effects such as wallets purses and keys.

Robbery and Stolen BMW in SE DC

by Lindsay Chastain

At approximately 9pm last Sunday night, neighbors of the 3400 block of Camden Street, Southeast, DC were robbed. The suspects took off with the car keys for and stole their silver BMW X5 (license plate DK6476). The car has not been recovered yet. If you have any information regarding this robbery or the vehicle please call 911. It is unclear if this is related to the chain of previous carjacking and thefts in southeast DC.

Lindsay Chastain reports on crime for All Life Is Local.

iPhone Mugger on the Prowl in Dupont Circle Area

This in from the Metropolitan Police.Watch your iPhones, and if a stranger asks to borrow your phone, suspect the worst. Here is the modus operandi, as reported by Commander Matt Klein of the Second District MPD. The mugger is still on the loose:

On Wednesday night, and again late last night (2:00AM, Thursday), there were two separate robberies at 21st and P Streets NW.  In both cases, the suspect approached the victims and engaged them in conversation before snatching their iPhones and running away.  During the robbery last night, the suspect asked the victim if he could use the phone to make a call, but when the victim offered to dial for him, he snatched the phone and ran.

The suspect in both cases is described as an African American male, about 20 years old, 5-8” to 5-10”.

Please use caution while walking late at night in this area and call the police immediately if you see anything suspicious.

Watch Out: Burglaries on the Increase in NW DC

Eyes open, everyone.  Burglaries are up in the Second District MPD, which covers Cleveland Park and nearby neighborhoods. (You can view a map of the Second District's area here.)  Here is the bulletin from Second District Commander Matt Klein.

I wanted to alert the community that we’re seeing an increase in burglaries in various locations in the upper-end of the Second District. Some of the burglaries occurred during the night while occupants were asleep. Yesterday, a home was broken into in the 1800 block of 47th Place , as well as a home in the 4600 block of 43rd Place, NW . No one was injured during the burglaries, and residents were not able to provide us with a description of the suspect.