From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at cody[AT]borderstan.com.
About 45 residents, government officials, and community leaders attended a public meeting on improving public safety hosted by the Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 2B) Wednesday night at the Jewish Community Center (see Wednesday: ANC 2B Hosting Public Safety Forum at JCC).
ANC 2B’s public safety liaisons Kishan Putta, left, and Noah Smith at Wednesday night’s meeting (Kishan Putta)
The meeting, entitled “A Safer Dupont,” was moderated by new ANC 2B Public Safety Liaisons Kishan Putta and Noah Smith.
The goal of the meeting, as Smith described, was “to reach out to the community and hear from residents and business owners about what concerns they have regarding public safety. This meeting was really a listening session and opportunity for folks to influence what Kishan and I plan to work on in the next few months.”
Auto and Smartphone Crimes
Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) gave opening remarks and touted the improvements in public safety in the District in recent years.
The 40 homicides as of June 20 are a decrease from 52 at this point last year and put D.C. on pace to have less than 100 homicides for the first time since 1963.
Evans also pointed out that thefts of electronics from automobiles and robberies involving smartphones are increasingly a problem and residents need to be more conscious of their surroundings and take precautions to avoid becoming victims of crimes of opportunity.
ANC 2B Chair Will Stevens (ANC 2B-08) noted that the ANC meeting agenda is often dominated by regulatory applications and so liaisons and other public meetings like this one are an important way for the ANC to be more proactive about issues like public safety.
Road Safety, Biking Discussed
The meeting included discussion of both road safety issues and crime and law enforcement concerns. A number of representatives from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) attended the meeting to hear resident concerns. Shane Farthing, executive director of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), recognized that as a result of the 20 percent growth in bicycling in the past year, there may be some conflicts between bikes, cars, and pedestrians.
While bicycle riding on the sidewalk is only prohibited in the Central Business District, WABA encourages all riders to avoid sidewalk riding entirely. Residents encouraged DDOT to improve signage explaining the boundaries of the Central Business District and also recommended improvements to the bike lanes on 15th Street NW.
A draft DDOT report on bicycle facilities includes a number of recommendations to improve the lanes, including better traffic signals for southbound bikers. A number of residents also expressed concerns about traffic signals in Dupont Circle and the inability for cyclists and pedestrians to safely navigate the circle.
Bias Crimes
Hassan Naveed of Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV) provided statistics on bias crimes in the District. There were 91 such offenses citywide in 2011, up from 68 in 2010. Fifty four of these were related to sexual orientation or gender identity, up from 45 in 2010. Naveed encouraged victims of any bias-related crime to call 911 first, but also contact the Metropolitan Police Department’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit (GLLU) and GLOV. The GLOV website has a number of safety tips and victim resources.
A number of MPD officers were in attendance, including Second District Commander Michael Reese, Third District Commander Jacob Kishter, and Police Service Area Lieutenants John McDonald (PSA 208) and Nicole Lindsey (PSA 301).
Possible Joint PSA 208 and 301 Meetings
McDonald and Lindsey announced they are considering combining their monthly PSA meetings, because of the overlap of issues and concerns in PSA 301 and PSA 208. As a good example, the meeting location at the Jewish Community Center is in PSA 208, but across the street to the north side of Q Street NW is the south boundary of PSA 301. Meetings for both PSAs are currently held on the third Tuesday of the month, but this date may be changed to avoid a schedule conflict with the Meridian Hill Neighborhood Association monthly meetings.
Kishter reminded attendees to call 911 if they see any suspicious activity and also encouraged residents to make use of MPD’s text tip system if they want to report information anonymously. The number to text is 50411. For minor property damage or theft, residents can also make use of MPD’s Online Reporting Tool.
Bicycle-related issues emerged again during the law enforcement portion of the meeting as a concern of residents. MPD officials admitted that bicyclists are not cited often for failure to obey red lights and other traffic signals, although bicycle officers are directed to enforce traffic laws. Commander Kishter noted that bicycle thefts are fairly common and that residents should have pictures or other identifying information so they can claim a stolen bike if it is recovered. Bike owners are also encouraged to register their bike with the free National Bike Registry.
Putta and Smith will follow up with the concerns at the meeting and plan to hold a series of discussions on public safety issues in the Dupont area.
Kishan expressed his satisfaction with how this first meeting turned out: “Despite the hot-weather advisories, we had a full-house and productive, non-heated discussions between us, the residents, the police, the interest groups, and the government. We’re not going to solve every problem to everyone’s satisfaction, but, by continuing the kind of collaboration that we had tonight, we can work together to improve many aspects of safety in our neighborhood.”
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11th and U Streets NW. (Cody Telep)
From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at [email protected].
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) distributed flyers entitled “Robbery Alert” to cars parked in the U Street area Tuesday afternoon, and repeated the distribution to cars and pedestrians passing through the intersection of 12th Street, NW and W Street, NW on Thursday morning. The flyers provide a series of safety tips to help residents and visitors avoid becoming robbery victims.
Robberies in Borderstan were up in January over 2011 numbers (Borderstan Sees Jump in Armed Robberies in January). February robberies, however, are down so far compared to 2011 numbers. There were only seven robberies in Borderstan from February 1 through the afternoon of February 16, compared to 17 in the same time period in 2011. In 2010, just four robberies were reported in the first 16 days of February, a number likely affected by the two major snowstorms that struck D.C. in early February.
Despite the lower numbers compared to 2011 and January 2012, six of the seven robberies occurred just this week.
Two robberies took place the evening of February 12, one in the 1300 block of Corcoran Street, NW and another near Logan Circle in the 1500 block of Kingman Place, NW. On the evening of February 13, a victim was robbed in the 1100 block of R Street, NW. During the early morning hours of Valentine’s Day a gun robbery occurred at a bus stop in the 1900 block of 11th Street, NW.
A victim was robbed at gunpoint on February 15 at 8:30 a.m. on the 2100 block of 12th Place ,NW. Finally, a gun robbery occurred in the early morning of February 16 at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue, NW and Q Street, NW.
Fortunately, two arrests have been made in the 11th Street NW case; the pair are also suspected in two other robberies outside of Borderstan that took place early Tuesday morning (see coverage from The Washington Post).
The text of the MPD flyer is below:
- Attacks usually come from behind. Be aware of distances between you and someone who may be coming up behind you.
- Try to avoid walking alone, cutting through alley ways or areas that are dark or less traveled.
- Watch alleys and dark spaces between buildings. This is where the robber gets the jump on you.
- Innocuous questions like “Do you have the time, May I borrow you cell to call someone, Do you have a light?” may be indicators. Follow your instinct. If it doesn’t feel right, step into a store or business. Most of the time this will deter the robbers.
- If you need to use your cell phone or text, stop somewhere public. The robber does not want witnesses.
- Do not take money out of an ATM late at night. Get your money before you head out for the evening.
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Related Posts
Smartphones and portable electronic devices are targets of robbers in the area. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at [email protected].
We received several emails and tweets from Borderstan readers in the past two weeks, wanting to know if armed robberies were up in the area. The answer is “yes” for both robberies and armed robberies.
Borderstan recorded 21 robberies in the first month of 2012, up from 14 in the same time period in 2011. As The Washington Post reported, robberies were up citywide in January, largely driven by thefts of smartphones and other portable electronic devices.
While the 21 robberies in Borderstan are below the 27 recorded in January 2010, a greater proportion of 2012 robberies involved guns than in either of the two previous years. Offenders used a gun in 11 January robberies (about 52%) compared to six of 27 robberies in 2010 (about 22%) and three of 14 robberies in 2011 (about 21%).
Eight of the January robberies occurred in Police Service Area (PSA) 307, which covers the area around Logan Circle (see Closer Look at PSA 307’s New Boundaries, Personnel). All eight involved a weapon (offenders had a gun in six instances and a knife in two). In January 2011 there were zero robberies in this PSA.
The Metropolitan Police Department has a series of tips for residents to avoid becoming the victim of robbery. As they note, the best recommendation is “to be sensible and to be alert.”
These robbery data are drawn from the D.C. Data Catalog, and like any police data, they are subject to change over time.
An increase in thefts from autos drove up the overall crime rate in 2010 in the Borderstan area. The largest increases for this type of crime were in Dupont-Logan. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at [email protected].
Crime was up in Borderstan in 2011, but that increase was driven largely by an almost 50% increase in thefts from cars (2011 Borderstan Crime: More Thefts from Auto Drive Crime Rate Up). A closer look at the theft from auto stats from 2010 and 2011 suggests that this jump in thefts was concentrated in only certain parts of Borderstan.
The table below shows thefts from auto divided by Police Service Area (PSA). Using the old PSA boundaries that were in effect until the end of 2011, Borderstan covers parts of PSA 305 (U Street), 307 (Logan), 208 (Dupont) and a small part of 308 (Convention Center). While thefts from auto increased across all of the PSAs, the magnitude of the increases varied a good deal. The number of thefts from auto was similar from 2010 to 2011 in PSA 305, but showed major increases in PSAs 208 (up 91.3%) and 307 (up 54.5%). (PSA 308 also shows a large percentage change, but this is based on small numbers). These data only reflect the portions of each PSA that fall in the Borderstan coverage area.
Thefts from Auto by PSA
| PSA |
2010 |
2011 |
% Change |
| 208 |
230 |
440 |
+91.3% |
| 305 |
280 |
297 |
+6.1% |
| 307 |
220 |
340 |
+54.5% |
| 308 |
18 |
38 |
+111.1% |
| Total |
748 |
1,115 |
+49.1% |
We can see these changes reflected when we examine the “hottest” street blocks for thefts from auto. In 2010, these blocks were concentrated in PSA 305 in the U Street corridor. For example, the 1300 block of T Street NW had 12 thefts from auto, while the 1400 block of U Street NW and the 1400 block of V Street NW each had nine.
In 2011, we see some changes in the blocks with the highest number of thefts, reflecting the change in the distribution of thefts from auto across Borderstan. The 1600 block of O Street NW led the way with 15 thefts from auto, followed by the 1700 block of P Street NW and the 900 block of L Street NW with 14 each, and the 1500 block of Church Street NW with 13.
On a brighter note, while thefts from auto were up across Borderstan, the number of stolen cars dropped across all the PSAs in Borderstan from 2010 to 2011. The biggest drop came in PSA 305, which had 28 fewer stolen autos in 2011 than 2010.
Stolen Autos by PSA
| PSA |
2010 |
2011 |
% Change |
| 208 |
63 |
51 |
-19.0% |
| 305 |
68 |
40 |
-41.2% |
| 307 |
49 |
45 |
-8.2% |
| 308 |
12 |
10 |
-16.7% |
| Total |
192 |
146 |
-24.0% |
What can help explain these changes? Whatever the reason, these changes seem to be following recent citywide trends in stolen vehicles and thefts from auto. Analyses by the D.C. Crime Policy Institute (DCPI) showed declines in auto theft between 2005 and 2009 and increases in thefts from auto in the same time period (see the DCPI briefs on motor vehicle theft and theft from auto).
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) points out that thefts from motor vehicles are a crime of opportunity (see Thefts from Auto), and so it could be the case that the rise is a result of car owners providing more opportunities for potential offenders by leaving small electronics (e.g. GPS devices) and other valuables in plain sight in their vehicles. DC police offer a number of tips to avoid having your car targeted, including keeping valuables out of sight and placing all items in the trunk or a locked glove compartment.
The most likely explanation for the decline in stolen vehicles is that new cars are increasingly difficult to steal because of alarms and engine immobilizers. For example, analyses by the National Insurance Crime Bureau show that all of the 10 most frequently stolen cars nationwide in 2010 were models from 2004 or earlier.
The drop in stolen cars might also help explain the increase in thefts. Potential car thieves may be able to get into the car, but unable to start it, so they may turn to stealing the car’s contents. As MPD recommends, the best advice is to not leave anything valuable in your car in plain sight.
It happens around Borderstan: 36% of all robberies in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area involve a snatch. (Photo staged by Luis Gomez Photos)
From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at [email protected].
Urban residents are often quite concerned about becoming the victim of a robbery, and understandably so. Robberies can be traumatic and dangerous experiences, not to mention the loss of personal property that can occur. What can DC crime data tell us about robberies in Borderstan so far this year – which streets and blocks had the most robberies? How many involved a gun? And what method was used?
Dupont-Logan-U Street area: 36% of all robberies involve a snatch, e.g., a robber grabs a purse or cell phone… 14% involve a gun, and 3% involve a knife… 29% involve force and violence, but not a weapon.
In total, 196 street blocks or intersections have had at least one robbery in 2011, but just 67 of these 196 blocks/intersections had more than one robbery. From January 1 to November 15, 2011, there were 308 robberies in Borderstan. Almost one-half of these (146) occurred in Police Service Area (PSA) 305, which includes the U Street area. The rest were about evenly split between PSA 307 (88), which covers the Logan Circle area; and PSA 208 (74), which covers Dupont-Kalorama. (It’s important to remember that PSAs are not equal in population or geographic area.)
U Street Corridor Cluster
Many of the streets with the highest number of robberies are clustered in the U Street corridor:
- The 1300 block of U Street NW had nine robberies to lead all streets. The 1300 block of U Street NW is also the “hottest” block in Borderstan in 2011 and has the highest proportion of violent crime among the highest crime streets; see Violent vs. Property Crime on Borderstan’s “Hot” Blocks.
- The 1000 and 1200 blocks of U Street both had five robberies apiece.
- The 900 block of U Street and the intersection of 14th and U Streets NW each had four robberies.
The table below examines the method used in these 308 robberies. About 14% of robberies involved a gun — about 16% when including carjacking incidents, 6 of which involved a gun. While any gun robbery is a harrowing experience for the victim, gun robbery is not the most common type in Borderstan.
Robberies using some type of force or violence (but not a weapon) made up about 29% of all robberies and snatch cases involving a purse or other items (e.g., cell phones) being taken made up close to 36% of robbery cases.
Robberies in Dupont-Logan-U Street
|
Method |
Frequency |
Percent |
| Force and violence |
88 |
28.6 |
| Pocketbook snatch |
59 |
19.2 |
| Snatch |
51 |
16.6 |
| Gun |
42 |
13.6 |
| Assault with intent |
17 |
5.5 |
| Attempt |
14 |
4.5 |
| Fear |
14 |
4.5 |
| Knife |
9 |
2.9 |
| Carjacking |
7 |
2.2 |
| Pickpocket |
4 |
1.3 |
| Other Armed |
3 |
1.0 |
| TOTAL |
308 |
100.0 |
|
|
|
|
When are these robberies occurring? The DC police data do not include the time of day for incidents (although a cursory review of DC Police Alerts suggests that robbery is a nighttime phenomenon), but the month and day are available.
The table below presents the number of robberies in Borderstan by month. The results partially confirm conventional knowledge about crime and the weather. When it is warmer outside, there are more people out on the street and that typically means higher rates of crime, particularly predatory crimes like robbery.
As might be expected, January has the lowest number of robberies (11) and June (41) and August (39) are among the highest months in total robberies. The lower number of robberies in July (26) and the higher number in October (44) are more surprising. October had the most robberies of any month so far this year. This cannot be explained just by the weather; October was actually slightly cooler than average (Capital Weather Gang’s October recap: Cooler, wetter, snowier than normal).
|
Month |
Frequency |
| January |
11 |
| February |
26 |
| March |
27 |
| April |
21 |
| May |
30 |
| June |
41 |
| July |
26 |
| August |
39 |
| September |
29 |
| October |
44 |
| November (first 15 days) |
14 |
| TOTAL |
308 |
Robbery a Rare Event
Overall, robbery in Borderstan is not a rare event, but fortunately, it is also not particularly common (especially gun robbery). As with prior analyses of crime in Borderstan, it is important to keep in mind that these data are all drawn from police incidents, which are always subject to later changes and reclassification.
The 1400 block of P Street NW is a busy commercial corridor. What do the crime numbers look like? (Luis Gomez Photos)
Last week Borderstan welcomed a new contributor, Cody Telep. A resident of the U Street area, he is writing about crime and the police. Telep is finishing a PhD in criminology at George Mason University.
From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at [email protected].
Not all high crime locations are created equal. Last week, I examined the highest crime street blocks in Borderstan: Crime in Borderstan: Do You Live on a “Hot” Street Block? However, total crime counts don’t necessarily tell the whole story. Most people fear violent crime far more than property crime (with good reason). So, I went back and looked at the 12 blocks in terms of violent and property crimes.
In the table below, I revisit the 12 highest crime street blocks, this time dividing the total number of incidents between violent crime and property crime.
Overall, the table shows a good deal of variation from block to block in the percentage of crime that is violent versus property. For violent crime, the percentage ranges from 4 percent for the 1700 block of P Street NW (just 1 robbery out of 24 total incidents) to the 40.5 percent on the 1300 block of U Street mentioned above. Despite the wide range, on all of these blocks, property crime is more common than violent crime.
| Rank | Street Block (B/O = block of) |
Violent Incidents |
Percentage of Total |
Property Incidents |
Percentage of Total |
|
| 1. | 1300 B/O U Street NW |
17 |
40.5% |
25 |
59.5% |
|
| 2. | 1400 B/O P Street NW |
3 |
7.9% |
35 |
92.1% |
|
| 3. | 1600 B/O Connecticut Avenue NW |
3 |
9.7% |
28 |
90.3% |
|
| T4. | 1500 B/O Connecticut Avenue NW |
2 |
8.0% |
23 |
92.0% |
|
| T4. | 1700 B/O P Street NW |
1 |
4.0% |
24 |
96.0% |
|
| 6. | 1200 B/O U Street NW |
7 |
29.2% |
17 |
70.8% |
|
| 7. | 1700 B/O T Street NW |
2 |
8.7% |
21 |
91.3% |
|
| T8. | 1300 B/O 14th Street NW |
6 |
28.6% |
15 |
71.4% |
|
| T8. | 1900 B/O 14th Street NW |
5 |
23.8% |
16 |
76.2% |
|
| T10. | 1000 B/O U Street NW |
4 |
20.0% |
16 |
80.0% |
|
| T10. | 1800 B/O 14th Street NW |
4 |
20.0% |
16 |
80.0% |
|
| T10. | 1900 B/O 9th Street NW |
7 |
35.0% |
13 |
65.0% |
|
|
TOTAL |
|
61 |
19.7% |
249 |
80.3% |
|
Violent crime here refers to robberies, assaults with a deadly weapon, and sexual abuse cases (there was just 1 sexual abuse incident on these 12 blocks). Property crime is a combination of stolen automobiles, thefts, and thefts from automobiles. There were no arsons or homicides on these 12 street blocks in the first 10 months of 2011.
Some interesting findings emerge from the table. The highest crime street segment, the 1300 block of U Street NW, also had the highest proportion of violent crime incidents. Just over 40 percent of the incidents on this block can be classified as violent crimes, with eight assaults with a deadly weapon and nine robberies.
This stands in contrast to the block with the second highest number of total incidents, the 1400 block of P Street NW, which had just three violent incidents. Thefts were driving crime incidents on this block; 31 of the 38 total incidents were classified as thefts.
Overall, the table shows a good deal of variation from block to block in the percentage of crime that is violent versus property. For violent crime, the percentage ranges from 4 percent for the 1700 block of P Street NW (just 1 robbery out of 24 total incidents) to the 40.5 percent on the 1300 block of U Street mentioned above. Despite the wide range, on all of these blocks, property crime is more common than violent crime.
As noted last week, these blocks overall produced about 14 percent of crime incidents in Borderstan. For certain crime categories, however, these blocks are responsible for a greater proportion of incidents. For example, 26 percent of all assaults with a deadly weapon and 25 percent of all thefts in Borderstan occurred on these blocks. Interestingly, auto-related crimes were less common. In total these 12 blocks had just six stolen cars (about five percent of the Borderstan total) and 44 thefts from automobiles (again, about five percent of the Borderstan total).
Just as with last week’s results, it is important to not overstate these findings. While the 1300 block of U Street has had the highest number of violent crime incidents, there were still only 17 such incidents in the first 10 months of 2011. Additionally, these results come from police incident data, which are always subject to later changes and reclassifications.
Police Alerts reported a stabbing early Thursday morning, November 3. The crime occurred west of Dupont Circle on the 2200 block of P Street NW, which is close to the bridge over Rock Creek Park. The only details at this point are from the Alert, but the incident occurred at 12:44 am:
Police Alert- STABBING44HOURS\2200 BLK OF P STREET, NW\LOOKOUT B/M, 20’S, LT COMPLX, GREY HOODED, BLK SLEEVES, JEANS, L/S NORTH ON 22ND ST, NW DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/EVENT #I22110572166. Sent on: 11/03 01:07
Pay extra attention when you are out-and-about on the weekends. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Pay attention to your surroundings and your behavior when you are out and about on the streets — especially on weekends.
The weekends are prime time for criminals. Lots of visitors from the suburbs and other neighborhoods visit the Borderstan area. This means extra people on the street with credit cards and cash (with “beverages” thrown into the mix), which equals opportunity for robbers.
Yes, this is a “safe neighborhood.” It’s also the downtown area of a big city. Pay attention. Also, remember to educate your visitors to the neighborhood about thefts from autos.
Following are major crimes from the past weekend in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area as reported by the DC Police.
Friday, October 28
- Assault with a Deadly Weapon, 10 pm, 2000 block of 14th Street NW (tavern)
- Burglary, October 26-28, 2200 block of 12th Place NW (residence)
Saturday, October 29
- Robbery, 6:11 am, 1900 block of 11th Street NW (sidewalk)
- Robbery, 11 pm, 1200 block of Florida Avenue NW (sidewalk)
- Stolen Auto, 2:49 am, 1500 block of 12th Street NW (street)
Sunday, October 30
- Burglary, 4:10 pm, 1300 block of 12th Street NW (residence)
- Robbery, 12:30 am, 1300 block of W Street NW (sidewalk)
- Robbery, 4:30 am, 1200 block of U Street NW (sidewalk)
- Stolen Auto, 12:30 am, 12th and W Streets NW (street)
- Stolen Auto, 10:30 am, 13th and S Streets NW (street).
- Stolen Auto, 1700 block of T Street NW (street)
Thefts from autos are the second most common type of crime in the area after thefts. There were 54 reported "smash and grabs" in September in PSA 208, which covers the Dupont-Kalorma area. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Matty Rhoades. Email Matty at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @mattyrhoades.
The total number of crimes in September’s Police Service Area (PSA) 208 report shows a 17% decline from the previous year. Last month there were 162 crimes in the PSA that covers the Dupont-Kalorama area — compared to 195 in September 2010. Fewer robberies and burglaries were major factors in the decline. All numbers are from the MPD Crime Database.
There were 12 burglaries in the Dupont-Kalorama area in September, down from 26 the previous September. (MPD Crime Database)
The news was particularly good in that there were year-over-year (YOY) declines in both violent and property crimes. There were 19 violent crimes last month in the Dupont area compared to 27 the previous September, a 30% drop. Property crimes — which account for the vast majority of crimes — declined by 15%. There were 143 property crimes in PSA 208 last month compared to 168 in September 2010.
Notable Numbers
The major decrease in violent crime was in robberies: there were only 10 last month compared to 20 in September last year. The number of assaults was essentially unchanged; 8 last month compared to 7 the previous September.
In September, the noticeable decreases in property crime were in burglaries (down from 26 to 12) and thefts (down from 82 to 69). However, the number of thefts from autos (“smash and grabs”) was up slightly on a YOY basis: there were 54 last month compared to 49 in September 2010. Thefts from autos are consistently one of the two most common types of crimes in the Dupont area.
Three-Year Trend: 2008 to 2011
What does the three-year trend (2008-2011) for the month of September in PSA 208 show? Violent crime has decreased 23% while property crime is down 7%. Total crime — property and violent crime — has decreased by 11% for the three-year trend. Detailed numbers are in the chart below.
| Crime in Police Service Area 208: September 1-30 | ||||||
| Crime Type | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | % Change 2010 to 2011 | % Change 2008 to 2011 |
| Homicide | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | N.A. | Down 50% |
| Sex Abuse | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | N.A. | Down 100% |
| Robbery without Gun | 17 | 12 | 19 | 7 | Down 63% | Down 59% |
| Robbery with Gun | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | Up 200% | Down 40% |
| Assault with Dangerous Weapon (no gun) | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | Up 14% | Up 60% |
| Assault with Dangerous Weapon (with gun) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N.A. | N.A. |
| Total Violent Crime | 29 | 21 | 27 | 19 | Down 30% | Down 23% |
| Burglary | 18 | 14 | 26 | 12 | Down 54% | Down 33% |
| Theft | 67 | 104 | 82 | 69 | Down 16% | Up 3% |
| Theft from Auto | 53 | 90 | 49 | 54 | Up 10% | Up 2% |
| Stolen Auto | 14 | 8 | 11 | 8 | Down 27% | Down 43% |
| Arson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N.A. | Down 100% |
| Total Property Crime | 153 | 216 | 168 | 143 | Down 15% | Down 7% |
| TOTAL CRIME | 182 | 237 | 195 | 162 |
Down 17% |
Down 11% |
Pay attention to your surroundings and your behavior when you are out and about on the streets — especially on weekends. The weekends are prime time for criminals. Lots of visitors from the suburbs and other neighborhoods visit the Borderstan area. This means extra people on the street with credit cards and cash (with “beverages” thrown into the mix), which equals opportunity for robbers.
Yes, this is a “safe neighborhood.” It’s also the downtown area of a big city. Pay attention.
Following are major crimes from the past weekend in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area as reported by the DC Police.
ADW = Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Friday, October 14
- ADW, 2:50 am, 1900 block of 19th Street NW (street)
- ADW, 2:50 am, 14th and Corcoran Streets NW (sidewalk)
- Robbery, 5 pm, 800 block of T Street NW (sidewalk).
- Robbery, 12:30 am, 1600 block of S Street NW (sidewalk)
Saturday, October 15
- ADW, 8:20 pm, 1300 block of U Street NW (street)
- ADW, 11:09 pm, 2100 block of P Street NW (nightclub)
- Robbery, 2:58 am, 2000 block of 10th Street NW (government building)
- Robbery, 10:22 pm, Connecticut Avenue and N Street NW (sidewalk)
- Robbery, 9:40 pm, 1500 block of U Street NW (sidewalk)
- Stolen Auto, 9:20 pm, 1300 block of 11th Street NW (street)
Sunday, October 16
- Burglary, 2 to 7 pm, 2200 block of 11th Street NW (residence)
- Burglary, 2 to 2:30 pm, 1100 block of W Street NW (residence)
- Robbery, 2 am, 1800 block of 7th Street NW (sidewalk)
- Robbery, noon, 2000 block of New Hampshire Avenue NW (sidewalk)
- Robbery, 9:20 pm, 1100 block of V Street NW (restaurant)
Recent crimes in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area.
The following are crimes of note from the past week — robberies, assaults, sex crimes, drug crimes, stolen autos and burglaries in the Dupont Circle, Logan Circle and U Street neighborhoods. Crimes are from police reports for Police Service Areas (PSAs) 208 (Dupont-Kalorama), 305 (includes U Street area) and 307 (Logan Circle).
Robbery
- Saturday, October 1, 1:55 am, 1400 block of Florida Avenue NW (sidewalk).
- Saturday, October 1, 2:45 am, 1700 block of 11th Street NW (sidewalk).
- Saturday, October 1, 12:15 am, 14th Street and Riggs Place NW (sidewalk).
- Monday, October 3, 4:45 pm, 1500 block of 14th Street NW (sidewalk).
- Tuesday, October 4, 2:40 am, 21st and O Streets NW (sidewalk).
Assault With A Deadly Weapon
- Saturday, October 1, 2:30 am, Connecticut Avenue and Q Street NW (sidewalk).
- Sunday, October 2, 1:30 to 2 pm, 2100 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW (other).
Sex Abuse
- Saturday, October 1, 2:42 am, 1800 block of 17th Street NW (residence).
Stolen Auto
- Saturday, October 1, 3:30 am, 1300 block of 9th Street NW (street).
- Sunday, October 2, 900 block of M Street NW (street).
Burglary
- Friday, September 30, 1 to 3:30 pm, 1700 block of Corcoran Street NW (residence).
- Saturday, October 1, 3:17 to 4 am, 1900 block of 17th Street NW (residence).
- Sunday, October 2, 9 pm, 1500 block of 12th Street NW (residence).
Recent crimes in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area.
The following are crimes of note from the past week — robberies, assaults, sex crimes, drug crimes, stolen autos and burglaries in the Dupont Circle, Logan Circle and U Street neighborhoods. Crimes are from police reports for Police Service Areas (PSAs) 208 (Dupont-Kalorama), 305 (includes U Street area) and 307 (Logan Circle).
Robbery
- Tuesday, September 20, 8:15 pm, 1900 block of New Hampshire Avenue NW (street).
- Wednesday, September 21, 11:23 pm, 12th and U Streets NW (street).
- Thursday, September 22, 4:55 pm, 900 block of U Street NW (sidewalk).
- Friday, September 23, 11:05 pm, 1400 block of 10th Street NW.
- Saturday, September 24, 5:07 pm, 1600 block of 11th Street NW (sidewalk).
- Saturday, September 24, 3:55 am, 700 block of M Street NW (street).
Assault With A Deadly Weapon
- Sunday, September 25, 1:30 am, 1600 block of R Street NW (residence).
Burglary
- Wednesday, September 21, 5:30 am, 1700 block of S Street NW (residence).
- Wednesday, September 21, to Friday, September 23, 1800 block of Swann Street NW (residence).
- Friday, September 23, 1 to 5 am, 1200 block of N Street NW (residence).
- Tuesday, September 27, 8:30 pm, 1400 block of Swann Street NW (residence).
Stolen Auto
- Saturday, September 24, 2000 block of 8th Street NW (park area).
- Friday, September 23 to Sunday, September 25, 1700 block of R Street NW (street).
Recent crimes in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area.
The following are crimes of note from the past week — robberies, assaults, sex crimes, drug crimes, stolen autos and burglaries in the Dupont Circle, Logan Circle and U Street neighborhoods. Crimes are from police reports for Police Service Areas (PSAs) 208 (Dupont-Kalorama), 305 (includes U Street area) and 307 (Logan Circle).
Robbery
- Saturday, September 17, 2:15 am, 1400 block of U Street NW (sidewalk).
- Saturday, September 17, 4:45 pm, 14th and T Streets NW (sidewalk).
- Saturday, September 17, 4:29 am, 1400 block of 14th Street NW (alley).
- Sunday, September 18, 7:10 pm, 2000 block of 14th Street NW (street).
- Tuesday, September 20, 9 pm, 1400 block of N Street NW (sidewalk).
Assault With A Deadly Weapon
- Saturday, September 17, 3 am, 1600 block of U Street NW (sidewalk).
- Sunday, September 18, 1:45 am, U Street and Vermont Avenue NW (street).
- Tuesday, September 20, 5:40 am, 1100 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW (residence).
Felony Threat
- Monday, September 19, 6:23 pm, 1400 block of U Street NW: “A Felony Threats offense occurred in the 1400 block of U St., N.W. (PSA 208) and was subsequently reported to the MPD. The witness reported that a subject became belligerent after being asked to leave the establishment. He threatened to return and kill two of the employees. The MPD was summoned and responded to the scene. The suspect was detained, subsequently arrested and charged accordingly. This is a closed case.”
Threat To Do Bodily Harm
- Thursday, September 15, 11 pm, 1800 block of 18th Street NW (food establishment): “The reporting person stated that after serving two customers food, she was presented a menial tip and asked by the customers if the amount was enough. She replied yes, only if her service was bad and if not, then it was not enough of a tip. In response, the two customers became indignant and threatened to do bodily harm to the victim. When a manager was summoned the two suspects fled from the establishment. The suspects are described as: #1-Hispanic/Female, 21-22 YOA, 5’3″-5’5″, 115-120 lbs. with brown eyes, long black hair, a medium complexion and a medium build. She was last seen wearing blue pants, a gray shirt and a black jacket. #2-Black/Female, 18-21 YOA, 5’9″, 150-160 lbs. with brown eyes, short black hair, a dark complexion and a medium build. She was last seen wearing blue pants and a red shirt.”
Sexual Assault
- Sunday, September 18, 4 pm, 1400 block of P Street NW (convenience store).
Stolen Auto
- Monday, September 12, to Thursday, September 15, 1900 block of New Hampshire Avenue NW (street).
- Saturday, September 17, 3:30 am, 1300 block of New Hampshire Avenue NW (street).
- Saturday, September 17, 10 pm, 1800 block of Vermont Avenue NW (alley).
There were 23 violent crimes in Dupont’s PSA 208 in August, up from 15 in August 2010. The number of property crimes declined. (MPD Crime Database)
From Matty Rhoades. Email Matty at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @mattyrhoades.
The total number of crimes in August’s Police Service Area (PSA) 208 report shows little change from August 2010: there were 206 crimes this year as compared to 207 crimes in August 2010.
That said, within that number, the proportion of violent crimes has increased while the proportion of property crimes has dropped. All numbers are from the MPD Crime Database. There were 23 violent crimes last month as compared to 15 in August 2010. Robberies, assaults and sex crimes were all up; exact numbers are listed in the chart below.
There were 12 burglaries in the Dupont Circle area last month, which is down from 19 in August 2010. (MPD Crime Database)
Property crime decreased (aside from auto-theft, which increased 86%) in August YOY: there were 183 property crimes (burglaries, thefts and stolen autos) last month compared to 192 in August 2010.
Three-Year Trend: 2008 to 2011
What does the three-year trend (2008-2011) for the month of August in PSA 208 show? Violent crime has decreased 23% while property crime has risen 24%. Total crime — property and violent crime — has increased 16% for the three-year trend. Detailed numbers are in the chart below.
| Crime in Police Service Area 208: July 1-31 | ||||||
| Crime Type | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | % Change 2010 to 2011 | % Change 2008 to 2011 |
| Homicide | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N.A. | N.A. |
| Sex Abuse | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Up 100% | Up 100% |
| Robbery without Gun | 14 | 21 | 9 | 12 | Up 33% | Down 14% |
| Robbery with Gun | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | Down 100% | Down 100% |
| Assault with Dangerous Weapon (no gun) | 10 | 6 | 3 | 6 | Up 100% | Down 40% |
| Assault with Dangerous Weapon (with gun) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | N.A. | N.A. |
| Total Violent Crime | 30 | 34 | 15 | 23 | Up 53% | Down 23% |
| Burglary | 10 | 17 | 19 | 12 | Down 37% | Up 20% |
| Theft | 67 | 108 | 121 | 95 | Down 21% | Up 42% |
| Theft from Auto | 55 | 73 | 36 | 67 | Up 86% | Up 22% |
| Stolen Auto | 15 | 13 | 16 | 9 | Down 44% | Down 40% |
| Arson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N.A. | N.A. |
| Total Property Crime | 147 | 211 | 192 | 183 | Down 5% | Up 24% |
| TOTAL CRIME | 177 | 245 | 207 | 206 |
No Change |
Up 16% |
Recent crimes in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area.
The following are crimes of note from the past week — robberies, assaults, sex crimes, drug crimes, stolen autos and burglaries in the Dupont Circle, Logan Circle and U Street neighborhoods. Crimes are from police reports for Police Service Areas (PSAs) 208 (Dupont-Kalorama), 305 (includes U Street area) and 307 (Logan Circle).
Robbery
- Thursday, September 8, 10:20 am, 2100 block of 13th Street NW (sidewalk).
- Thursday, September 8, 11:02 pm, 1300 block of 12th Street NW (sidewalk).
- Friday, September 9, 2 am, 1600 block of Rhode Island Avenue NW (hotel).
- Friday, September 9, 8:32 pm, 1500 block of 17th Street NW (restaurant).
- Saturday, September 10, 2:45 pm, 1200 block of U Street NW (sidewalk).
- Sunday, September 11, 12:45 am, 1500 block of Swann Street NW (alley).
- Sunday, September 11, 5:25 pm, 11th and W Streets NW (sidewalk).
- Tuesday, September 13, 12:55 am, 1500 block of Corcoran Street NW (sidewalk).
Assault With A Deadly Weapon
- Thursday, September 8, 11:30 pm, Thomas Circle NW (church/temple/synagogue).
Sex Abuse
- Monday, September 5, 2:30 am, 2100 block of 16th Street NW (residence).
Sexual Assault
- Saturday, September 10, 11:15 pm, 1500 block of 13th Street NW (sidewalk).
Burglary
- Friday, September 9, 9 am to 8:20 pm, 800 block of N Street NW (residence).
Stolen Auto
- Friday, September 9, 9 am, 2000 block of 8th Street NW (street).
- Friday, September 9, to Saturday, September 10, 13th and S Streets NW (street).
