Police Make Arrest for U Street Pickpocketing

From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at cody[AT]borderstan.com.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested a suspect for stealing a cell phone from a woman’s purse on the morning of March 16, according to a post to the Third District Yahoo! group. The incident occurred just after midnight at the bar at the Brixton, 901 U Street NW.

In a similar incident on the evening of March 16 in Adams Morgan, a suspect was arrested for stealing multiple cell phones at Grand Central, 2447 18th Street.

The MPD has a number of tips on pickpocket prevention and being aware of your surroundings to avoid robbery victimization. These include men carrying their wallet in a front pocket or a jacket pocket instead of a back pocket.

Pockets that can be zippered or buttoned shut also make it more difficult for pickpockets to grab your possessions. Putting a rubber band around your wallet can make it easier to detect a pickpocket in action, because the rubber band rubbing against your pants will create friction.

Police encourage women to avoid carrying their wallets in their purse and instead keep their wallet or any valuables in a zipped pocket on their person. If possible, women should also carry a small purse or handbag that can be easily held. Purses that have zippers or snaps also create a bigger challenge for pickpockets.

For women who are wearing a purse with a strap, keeping the strap diagonally across your body (instead of on your shoulder) helps keep the bag in front of you, which makes it harder for a pickpocket to strike from behind. Most importantly, do not leave any valuables unattended on a table or bar, even for a moment, as pickpockets and thieves only need a few seconds to steal your possessions.

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