U Street Area Robberies on Decline in 2012, Property Crime Increases
From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at cody[AT]borderstan.com.
Despite some well-publicized serious incidents in recent weeks on U Street NW, violent crime is down for the year in Police Service Area (PSA) 305, which covers U Street and surrounding streets between 7th Street NW and 14th Street NW. (See U Street Gun Robbery: 7-Eleven Robbed by Masked Gunmen, Early Saturday Morning Shooting on 1200 Block of U Street NW, Update on Early Morning Shooting, 1100 Block U Street NW.)
Click for a larger map: Police Service Area 305 includes the U Street area from 7th to 14th Streets NW, starting at S Street NW on the south. (DC Citizen Atlas)
Through Sunday, total violent crime in PSA 305 was down about 27 percent compared to the same period in 2011. While aggravated assaults with a gun are up slightly, robberies both with and without a gun have shown declines. There have been a total of 62 robberies in PSA 305 this year, down from 96 at this point last year.
Property crime, however, is up 39 percent compared to last year in the U Street area. Even though Vinoteca has faced a series of recent burglary incidents (Suspects Sought in 3 Burglaries of Vinoteca), burglary levels are similar to last year.
Thefts, thefts from autos, and auto thefts have all shown substantial increases. As a result of the increases in property crime, total crime in PSA 305 is up about 20 percent compared to last year. You can get more information from the MPD Crime Database.
Third District Commander Jacob Kishter noted that foot patrols and bike patrols have been increased in the U Street area in an effort to address these issues.
