U Street area: There were 16 assaults committed without a gun in the first 9 months of 2010. This compares to 6 in the first 9 months of 2009. (MPD Crime Database)

U Street area: There were 3 assaults committed with a gun in the first 9 months of 2010. This compares to 0 in the first 9 months of 2009. (MPD Crime Database)

The shooting, car crash and homicide at 11th and U Streets NW last Tuesday was a reminder that even in a relatively safe area of DC that tragedy sometimes strikes close to home. But, while homicides are rare in the U Street area, assaults and robberies are not so rare. (There was also a homicide on the 1900 block of 9th Street on May 28.)

Even as the strip of U Street from 9th west to 16th has rapidly redeveloped in the past decade—bringing in additional residents and people on the street—the violent crime rate has actually gone up in the past two years.

For the first 9 months of 2010 (period ended September 30), there were 62 violent crimes in the U Street area (see map). This compares to 51 violent crimes for the same period of 2009 and 46 in the first 9 months of 2008.

Percentage-wise, violent crime in the U Street area is up 35% in the past two years, on a year-over-year basis. 28 of 61 violent crimes in 2010 occurred on this stretch of U Street, not on side streets.

All numbers are from the MPD Crime Database. The U Street Corridor crime reporting area¹ (see map) covers a circular area that radiates 1,000 feet from 12th and U NW—an area that roughly runs from 14th Street on the west to 9th Street on the east and from W Street on the north to S Street on the south.

• Driving the increase is more assaults, both with and without guns. There have been 19 assaults in the U Street area in the first 9 months of 2010—compared to 6 in the same period last year and 7 in the first 9 months of 2008. Three of assaults this year involved a gun, compared to 0 in the first 9 months of both 2008 and 2008.
• The number of robberies in the first 9 months of 2010 in the U Street totaled 41—13 were committed with a gun and 28 without a gun. This compares to 44 robberies in the first 9 months of 2009 (19 with a gun) and 38 robberies in the first 9 months of 2008 (10 with a gun). While robberies are down slightly from last year, they are still up from two years ago.
• Total gun crimes are homicides, robberies and assaults committed with a gun. There have been 17 gun crimes in the U Street area this year, compared to 20 in the first 9 months of 2009 and 11 in the same period of 2008. While down from last year, the number of gun crimes is up 55% this year compared to the first 9 months of 2008.

While down from last year, the number of gun crimes is up 55% this year compared to the first 9 months of 2008.

• Property crime continues to decline in the U Street area (a trend seen in the 14th and 17th Street areas as well). There were 203 property crimes during the first 9 months of 2009, a 42% decline from the 352 property crimes in the same period of 2009—and a 15% decline from the same period of 2008. Thefts are down noticeably, but the huge drop is in the number of thefts from autos, known as smash-and-grabs.

There were 203 property crimes during the first 9 months of 2010, a 42% decline from the 352 property crimes in the same period of 2009.

Total crime stats for first 9 months of 2008, 2009 and 2010 are below the fold.

Read the full story

Click on the photo above to see images of the 11 & U Streets NW Shooting (Luis Gomez Photos)

Update at 9:30 am Wednesday: Dcist reports that police are seeking leads on a car in yesterday’s shooting: “Police are still looking for a white 2001 Buick with D.C. tags which was around U Street or leaving the area yesterday, just before or after the shooting at 12:30 p.m. Those with information about that car should call police at 202-727-9099, text at 50411, or leave a tip anonymously at 1-888-919-CRIME. The investigation is still open and police are looking for at least one other person.” ###

Update at 8:45 am Wednesday: The Washington Post reports that a 21-year-old man was taken into custody Thursday evening in connection with the shooting at 11th and U Streets yesterday; no word yet on whether he has been charged. ###

Update at 6 am Wednesday: It is still unclear whether Jamal Coates died from bullet wounds or the car crash… the incident appears to be gang related… TBD.com reports that police are “searching for a light-colored, older model Crown Victoria as part of their investigation and encouraged anyone who sees one to alert them.” ###

Update at 10:35 pm Tuesday: TBD.com reports that 21-year-old Jamal Coates died today after being shot at 11th and U Streets NW. MPD confirmed to Borderstan around 2:25 pm that two people were shot and one person is dead in the U Street shooting and auto accident that occurred around 12:30 pm today. Coates was part of a funeral procession for 24-year-old Ashley McRae. The Metro entrance at 13th and U NW is closed. It is believed the incident may be gang related. ###

One man died today in the 11th and U Street NW shooting. (Luis Gomez Photos)

TBD.com is reporting a shooting at 11th and U Streets NW that occurred during a funeral procession at around 12:30 pm. A car flipped over in U Street and several people were seen exiting the car. Read the full story at TBD.com.

The first report came via a police alert, which reported the shooting as happening at 13th and U Streets NW.

SHOOTING_1227 HOURS_13TH & U ST NW_LOF B/M, 25-30 YRS, LONG DREADS, WHITE SHIRT, DARK JEANS WEARING A WHITE BELT. L/S TOWARDS FLORIDA AVE. NW DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/EVENT #20100534329. Sent on: 09/28 12:42.

Crimes of note for the Dupont-Logan-U Street area.

Crimes of note between June 29 and July 6 include eight gun crimes in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area.

There were a total of 8 robberies reported—six were committed with a gun and one with a knife. Of the five reported assaults, two involved a gun.

Three of the gun robberies were reported on Thursday by Borderstan and the DC Police are looking for the same suspect in all three robberies—read “Police Seek Help Finding Local Business Robber.”

Robbery

• Wednesday, June 30, 1700 block of Florida Avenue NW-Business (with Gun).
• Wednesday, June 30, 1800 block of 18th Street NW-Business (with Gun).
• Friday, July 2, 1300 block of T Street NW (with Gun).
• Saturday, July 3, 1600 block of Vermont Avenue NW (with Gun).
• Saturday, July 3, 1500 block of 9th Street NW (with Knife).
• Sunday, July 4, 1100 block of R Street NW (Force & Violence).
• Tuesday, June 6, 1:11 pm, 1600 block of U Street NW-Business (with Gun).
• Tuesday, June 6, 11 am, 14th and P Streets NW (with Gun).

Assault with a Deadly Weapon

• Tuesday, June 29, 1700 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW.
• Wednesday, June 30, 6 pm, 1200 block of S Street NW-Residence (with Gun).
• Wednesday, June 30, 1300 block of U Street NW (with Gun).
• Friday, July 2, 1600 block of 17th Street NW.
• Saturday, July 3, 1700 block of U Street NW.

Stolen Auto

• Tuesday, June 29, 1400 block of S Street NW.
• Friday, July 2, 1800 block of S Street NW.
• Monday, July 5, 1900 block of Vermont Avenue NW.
• Monday, July 5, 13th and U Streets NW.

Click to enlarge: There were 53 violent crimes in the 14th and Q NW area between April 19, 2009 and April 19, 2010 — compared to 42 in the previous one-year period. Maps for two additional areas are below the fold. (MPD Crime Database)

We usually run “Crimes of Notes” on Wednesdays, a roundup of notable crimes from the previous week: robberies, assaults, burglaries, stolen autos, sex crimes and [rarely] homicides. This week we are doing something a bit different. Following is a snapshot of violent crime trends over the past two years in the three crime reporting areas we report on here at Borderstan.

The numbers are from the MPD Crime Database and each set of numbers is for the previous one-year period, i.e., April 19, 2009 to April 19, 2010. For each of the three crime reporting areas—14th Street, 17th Street and U Street—there are three sets of numbers.

Overall, violent crime in the three reporting areas has is either unchanged in the past two years or has gone up. The exception is the 17th Street area where violent crime is down over the past two years. But for all three areas, gun crimes are up over the past three years—from 34 gun crimes last year to 53 gun crimes this year, 56% increase.

Crimes for All Three Areas

For the three reporting areas (14th Street, 17th Street and U Street), there were the following number of violent crimes and gun crimes by year (gun crimes are robberies and assaults committed with a gun):

• April 19, 2007 to April 19, 2008: 147 violent crimes (40 gun crimes)
• April 19, 2008 to April 19, 2009: 150 violent crimes (34 gun crimes)
• April 19, 2009 to April 19, 2010: 154 violent crimes (53 gun crimes)

Violent Crimes and Gun Crimes in Each Area

Following are statistics for violent crimes, and gun crimes, by area. Read the full story

Kal Penn. (Borderstan)

The actor Kal Penn was reportedly robbed early this morning at gunpoint in the Dupont-Logan area, on the 1500 block of S Street NW, according to TMZ and NBCwashington.com.

Penn has been a resident of the area since last year when he took a job to work in the Obama administration. However, he recently decided to return to Hollywood.  Penn is known as one of the starts of the two Harold and Kumar movies and a had a role as a doctor in the TV show, House.

NBCwashington.com picked up the story from TMZ:

“A Metro Police report says that at 1:20 a.m., a male victim reported that while walking in the 1500 block of S St. N.W., a subject approached, showed him a handgun and ordered him to get down on the ground. The victim handed over his wallet and cell phone. A second suspect was standing nearby during the robbery; he was joined by the first suspect after the robbery.”

Here are recent crimes of note in Police Service Areas (PSAs) 208, 307 and 305 for the October 17-23 period in the Dupont Circle, U Street and Logan Circle areas. Crimes of note are stolen autos, burglaries and violent crimes such as robberies and assaults.

This week, nothing but robberies to report—four of them with guns. Read the full story

Click to enlarge: There were 21 robberies with a gun (shown above) in the first nine months of 2009 in Borderstan; there were another 43 robberies without a gun. In addition, there were 4 assaults with a gun, for a total of 25 gun crimes. This is up from 12 gun crimes during the same period of 2008. (Map: MPD crime database)

One can slice and dice crime stats the same way you can any other set of statistics: a million different ways. Personally, I find the most complete way of looking at crime trends is to get the numbers for the previous year (365 days), and then compare them to the same period the year before. This gives you one full year that takes into account seasonal differences.

Calendar-Year Reporting

However, the city and police department work on the calendar year. For example, you have probably read that the number of murders on a year-to-date basis in DC is down. (DC’s murder rate is down this year and much lower than in the 1980s and 1990s).

Moreover, crime stats are reported to the FBI on a calendar year basis. So, I decided to run the crime stats for the Borderstan reporting area¹ stats for the first three quarters of 2009, the third quarter having ended on September 30. I then compared them to the first nine months (three quarters) of 2008 and 2007. Following is what I found from the MPD online crime database.

Click to enlarge: Of the 64 Borderstan robberies between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2009, a total of 43 were committed without a gun; those committed without guns are shown here. (Map: MPD crime database)

Total Crime

Total crimes for the January 1 through September 30 period by year:

• 492 in 2007
• 514 in 2008 (4% increase over 2007)
• 598 in 2009 (16% increase over 2008 and 22% increase over 2007).

Read the full story

Click to enlarge: There were 10 violent crimes in Borderstan in September 2009. There is a noticeable concentration in the northeastern part of the area. (Map: MPD crime database)

Click to enlarge: Thefts from autos are the most common crime in the Borderstan area; there were 30 in September 2009. This map shows a concentration west of 15th St. NW. (Map: MPD crime database)

The number of crimes in September 2009 in the Borderstan crime reporting area¹ is up substantially over the previous two Septembers, 2007 and 2008.

The rise is being driven by property crimes, mostly thefts (up 85% from two years ago) and thefts from autos (up 173% from two years ago).

While violent crime remained steady, the number of gun crimes is up noticeably—a trend we have been seeing all year.

Total crime (both violent and property crimes) for the  month of September 2009 in the Borderstan crime area¹ is 27% higher than in September 2008 and 61% higher than September 2007.

September: Year by Year

• 44 crimes in September 2007
• 56 crimes in September 2008 (27% increase over 2007)
• 71 crimes in September 2009 (27% increase over 2008 and 61% increase over 2007).

Historical numbers are provided to give you perspective on the crime rate trend in the neighborhood. (You can run crime statistics from the DC MPD online crime database for up to two years.)

Read the full story

Good grief. A robbery with gun at the corner of 14th & S NW at 7:55 p.m. this evening. Will we ever get dedicated patrols for 14th and U Streets NW?

Granted that tonight is nasty, chilly and rainy, but this the heart of the 14th Street corridor in the middle of lots of new, fancy clubs and restaurants. Think for a second at what businesses are within a block from 14th & S NW: Bar Pilar, Cafe Saint-Ex, Cork, Policy, Black Cat and Source Theatre.

Note to our elected officials: NOT good PR if you want to attract more young urban hipsters to DC, and keep the suburbanites coming downtown:

• Washington, D.C. favorite area for wealthy young
• Best Cities For Jobs

From Police Alerts:

ROBBERY GUN _ 1955HRS @ 14TH & S ST NW LOF: 2 B/M S1 5’10″ BOTH SUSPECTS LSW DK JACKETS BLK PANTS W/ HOODY MUSLIM SCARF L/S HEADED TOWARD 13TH ST NW DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/EVENT #I20090578927

Here are recent crimes of note in Police Service Areas (PSAs) 208, 307 and 305 for the October 1-11 period in the Dupont Circle, U Street and Logan Circle areas. Crimes of note are stolen autos, burglaries and violent crimes such as robberies and assaults. Read the full story