Crime news from Dupont-Logan-U Street.
DC Police reported a gun robbery at 7:02 am today, February 11, on the 1800 block of 12th Street NW, between S and T Streets. The lookout is fora man wearing a blue hoody and a ski mask, according to the DC Police Twitter feed and Police Alert.
From DC Police Alerts: “ROBBERY (GUN) 0702 HRS_1800 BLK OF 12TH ST. NW_LOF B/M, BLUE HOODY WEARING A MASK DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/EVENT #I20130064842”
From the DC Police Twitter feed: “3D Robbery Gun-1800 blk 12th St NW/ B/M, 5’10. 160 lbs, blue hoody, blue jeans, mask covering face, L/S E/B on T St. NW//4014”
Police Alerts, More Information
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You can get more information about crime in the Borderstan area through the MPD listservs for the Second and Third Districts on Yahoo! Groups.
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Crime news from Dupont-Logan-U Street.
DC Police reported a robbery involving the use of force around 8 pm tonight, December 18, one block north of the U Street corridor near Duffy’s Irish Pub. The crime was at Vermont Avenue and V Street NW.
From DC Police Alerts: “HB 3051 CONFIRMED A Robbery Force at Vermont and V St. NW. LOF (5) B/Males, black jacket, blue jeans. DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/EVENT #I20120633443. Sent on: 12/18 19:54.”
From DC Police Twitter feed: “Robbery Force at Vermont and V St. NW. LOF (5) B/M’s, black jacket, blue jeans. 6972.”
Police Alerts, More Information
You can sign up for alerts through Alert DC and get alerts by e-mail, cell phone, pager or wireless PDA. When signing up, you can select alerts on crime, transportation, utility outages/issues, government closings, breaking news, DC-sponsored events and Amber Alerts. You can follow the DC Police on Twitter @DCPoliceDept.
You can get more information about crime in the Borderstan area through the MPD listservs for the Second and Third Districts on Yahoo! Groups.
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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.
From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at cody[AT]borderstan.com.
Crime news from Dupont-Logan-U Street.
The 7-Eleven at 1115 U Street NW was robbed at gunpoint by two masked men early Wednesday morning, August 1. The gun robbery occurred at about 4:30 am. The suspects were both described as black males, one wearing a gray shirt and dark pants and the other wearing a dark shirt and dark pants.
A tweet from the MPD (@DCPoliceDept) confirmed that it was the 7-Eleven: “3D ROBBERY (7-11) 12TH & U ST NW/LOF B/M GRAY SHIRT, DK PANTS, DK COMPLEX, MASK/B/M DARK SHIRT AND PANTS, MASK, DK COMPLEX/5269.”
This gun robbery follows a shooting near the 7-Eleven early Saturday morning, July 28. In that incident, two women were shot and sustained non-life threatening injuries (see Early Saturday Morning Shooting on 1200 block of U Street NW). Two women were also shot the prior weekend in the 1100 block of U Street NW on July 21 (see Update on Early Saturday Morning Shooting, 1100 Block of U Street NW). In addition, there was a a gun robbery at 11th and U Streets NW at 1:44 am on Sunday, July 8.
Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) reported that a low-caliber weapon that police initially believed was a BB gun was used in the July 28th shooting. According to comments he made to the The Washington Post, Graham does not believe the two shooting incidents are related. He noted the most recent shooting was particularly troubling, because the two women shot were bystanders that did not appear to be the intended targets. Graham tweeted Monday that he was on U Street “talking about what we need to do to reduce crime.”
Crime news from the Dupont-Logan-U Street area.
A U Street shooting left two women with non-life threatening injuries early this morning, Saturday, July 28. Two women were shot on the 1200 block of U Street around 1 am. According to DC Police Third District Captain Aubrey Mongal, “Two adult females were shot by an unknown shooter or shooters, both with non-life threatening injuries.”
If you have information about the shooting, please call 911 with Event #I20120376392.
Details from the Police Alert: “SHOOTING 0103 HOURS 1200 BLK U STREET NW NO LOOKOUT GIVEN AT THIS TIME DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/EVENT I20120376392. Sent on: 07/28 01:23″
A tweet from the DC Police on Twitter (@DCPoliceDept) around the same time said, “3D Shooting //1200 blk U Street NW // (2) A/F shot //1 in the face 1 in the neck //both conscious & breathing //6559”
The incident follows a shooting on the 1100 block of U Street NW last Saturday morning , July 21,around 2:45 a.m. The DC Police details from that shooting noted that “there were apparently two groups of males arguing. Moments later, gunshots were heard and two adult females were found suffering from single gunshot wounds to the leg. Officers were able to respond and recover one handgun from the area and place three males under arrest in connection to the weapon.” On July 23, The Washington Post published more details on the shooting with information on the arrests.
In addition, there was a a gun robbery three weekends ago at 11th and U Streets NW at 1:44 am on Sunday, July 8.
Number of Gun Crimes in Area
According to the MPD crime database, there have been four gun crimes within a 500-foot radius of 12th and U Streets since the beginning of the year (two robberies and two assaults with a gun through July 26). Over the past 12 months, there have been six gun crimes (robberies and assaults involving a gun) in the same defined area. The overall number of violent crimes for the past 12 months (27) in the area is the same as the previous 12-month period.
You can sign up for alerts through Alert DC and get alerts by e-mail, cell phone, pager or wireless PDA. When signing up, you can select alerts on crime, transportation, utility outages/issues, government closings, breaking news, DC-sponsored events and Amber Alerts.
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An MPD patrol car cruiser at the corner of R Street and Johnson Ave NW: MPD has stepped up patrols in response to a rise in robberies across DC. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at cody[AT]borderstan.com.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced three recent robbery arrests in cases in the Borderstan area. Two of the arrests were in the U Street NW corridor in Police Service Area (PSA 305) and one was in PSA 307 just north of Logan Circle.
On March 12 a female victim had her iPhone snatched from her around noon in the 1200 block of R Street NW. The suspect fled but was apprehended and arrested by police nearby. On March 16, police arrested a juvenile suspect for a robbery that occurred at 9th and U Streets NW on March 10.
Finally, on March 18, a victim was robbed inside of Italian Pizza Kitchen at 1110 U Street NW. The juvenile suspect fled, but was arrested by Metro Transit Police a short distance away on U Street NW.
Overall, there have been 61 robberies in Borderstan in 2012 (through March 18) up from 58 in this period in 2011. This is a much smaller increase than the citywide jump of about 31%. Gun robberies have been a problem both in Borderstan and citywide — increasing from 9 through March 18, 2011 to 17 so far this year in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area. Citywide, gun robberies have jumped about 71% from 2011 numbers.
Examining trends within Borderstan is complicated somewhat by the changes in police district and service area boundaries that occurred January 1 (New Police Service Areas Take Effect January 1). The starkest changes, however, are in the two PSAs (305 and 307) that changed very little. The portion of PSA 305 within Borderstan remained essentially the same and PSA 307 only changed slightly in size. Their robberies trends, at least based on the first months of 2012, have changed rather dramatically. PSA 305 has recorded 12 robberies in 2012, down from 34 through March 18 in 2011, while PSA 307 has had 23 robberies so far in 2012, up from eight in this time period in 2011.
Recent coverage from The Washington Post points to increased efforts by police to target robberies citywide, including increasing uniformed and plainclothes patrols. MPD is also offering rewards of up to $10,000 for information leading to robbery arrests. Anyone with information on a robbery case is encouraged to call 202-727-9099.
MPD announced last week that a lengthy investigation led to 16 arrests, mostly for felony trafficking in stolen property. Twelve businesses in DC were searched as a result of the effort to crack down on fencing operations, and over 500 stolen phones and other electronic devices were recovered. None of the businesses involved are in the Borderstan area. Anyone who believes their electronic device may have been among those recovered can email [email protected] with a description of the product and information (e.g. a serial number) that establishes your ownership.
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Related Posts
A lamp post sign for the new Neighborhood Watch Group in the U Street area. (Cody Telep)
From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at cody[AT]borderstan.com.
A neighborhood watch launch in the U Street area drew about 20 residents Tuesday night. The event was also attended by seven officers from the Metropolitan Police Department, including Police Service Area (PSA) 305 Lieutenant Daniel Harrington and Sergeant Mark Jackson, as well as 1B Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and Public Safety Chair Sedrick Muhammad.
The event was organized by by two residents of the and they have formed the 10th to 13th Streets NW group, which covers residents living in the area from 10th Street NW to 13th Street NW between U Street NW and Florida Avenue NW.
The event began with a security walk covering 13th Street, 12th Place NW and 12th Street NW between W Street NW and Florida Avenue NW. These streets have seen a number of incidents in recent months, including a morning armed robbery on 12th Place NW on February 15.
The walk included a number of safety tips from Harrington and other officers. To avoid personal victimization, Harrington reminded everyone to be aware of their surroundings and avoid being distracted looking at phones or other electronic devices. Harrington encouraged residents to put porch lights on in the evening or have motion sensor lights to discourage criminals.
As he noted, “the more light the better.” For residents with alley access, Harrington recommended clearly marking the home’s number in the back so that officers responding from the alley could easily find the house. He also advised residents to report any graffiti to the police. Officers can then attempt to identify any potential gang-related symbols and call in the gang intelligence unit for assistance if necessary. Lt. Harrington also reminded everyone in attendance to always call 911 if they see any suspicious activity.
The security walk was followed by a meet-and-greet with Harrington and other officers at Ulah Bistro on U Street NW.
The group plans to do additional security walks in the coming months covering other parts of the neighborhood. Join the 10th-to-13th Streets NW Google group for more information.
Related Posts
The new PSA 305 is smaller and more compact. (DC Citizen Atlas)
From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at [email protected].
As of January 1, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) introduced new District and Police Service Area (PSA) boundaries (New Police Service Areas Take Effect January 1). Over the next few weeks, we’ll be doing brief overviews of the boundaries of the new PSAs and how to contact the police personnel in charge of each area, starting with PSA 305. (See Google map.)
The new PSA 305 is a slimmed down version of the old PSA 305, now essentially covering just the U Street corridor and surrounding streets (view Google map or map at DC Citizen Atlas).
Previously, PSA 305 included more of the area surrounding Howard University, which has been moved into newly created PSA 306. The southern boundary of PSA 305 is S Street NW and the northern boundary is Florida Avenue, NW/Barry Place, NW. East to West, PSA 305 extends from 7th Street, NW/Georgia Avenue, NW to 14th Street, NW. Aside from a small section in the northeastern part of the PSA, all of PSA 305 falls within the Borderstan coverage area.
PSA 305 Contacts
Lt. Daniel Harrington is the new PSA Lieutenant for 305 (former PSA 305 Lieutenant Alberto Jova is now the Lieutenant for PSA 306). Harrington returns to the Third District after beginning his career with MPD there in 1997. He can be reached by phone at 202-673-7404 (office) or 202-437-8073 (cell), or by email at [email protected].
Captain Andre Wright is now overseeing four PSAs in the Third District including PSA 305. He has been with MPD for 18 years, most recently working in PSA 403. Wright can be reached by phone at 202-671-6777 (office) or 202-587-3762 (cell), or by email at [email protected].
Commander Jacob Kishter continues to be the commander for the Third District, a position he has held in since December 2009. Commander Kishter can be reached by phone at 202-671-6600 (office) or 202-528-8612 (cell), or by email at [email protected].
All PSA community meetings have been cancelled for January, but residents will have an opportunity to meet the new PSA management team at a meet and greet in February (we’ll post information on the meeting as soon as it’s available).
1000 Block of U Street NW: It was No. 4 on the list of blocks in the area for crime in 2011. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From last week: New Police Service Areas Take Effect January 1.
From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at [email protected].
The total number of serious crime incidents in Borderstan increased about 14% in 2011 compared to 2010, based on a review of crime data from the DC Data Catalog. This increase was driven largely by an upsurge in property crime (which grew by 18.4%), not by violent crime (which actually decreased 3.8%).
The breakdown by Police Service Areas (PSAs) is below. In 2011, the Borderstan area was primarily part of three PSAs: 305 (U Street), 307 (Logan), and 208 (Dupont) with a small portion in 308 (Convention Center). Let me remind you that these PSA boundaries are changing for 2012: New Police Service Areas Take Effect January 1.
All four of these PSAs showed crime increases in 2011 compared to 2010, with the greatest percentage increase in PSA 208. Note that these figures only represent the part of each PSA that falls in the Borderstan coverage area.
| Police Service Area (PSA) |
2010 Crimes |
2011 Crimes |
% Change |
| 305 (U Street) |
735 |
814 |
+10.7% |
| 307 (Logan) |
716 |
787 |
+9.9% |
| 308 (Convention Center) |
126 |
142 |
+12.7% |
| 208 (Dupont) |
836 |
1013 |
+21.2% |
| Total: |
2413 |
2756 |
+14.2% |
As noted earlier, a review of offense types in 2010 and 2011 shows that violent crime levels stayed fairly steady in 2011, while some property crime categories showed increases. Assaults with a deadly weapon showed a very slight increase and robberies declined about 6.5%. While the numbers for homicides are quite small, compared to the five that occurred in 2010, 2011 saw just one homicide (although a second was committed adjacent to Borderstan’s boundaries).
The biggest jump came in thefts from auto, which increased from 748 in 2010 to a shocking 1,115 in 2011: an increase of about 49%. The combination of thefts and thefts from auto make up 71.2% of serious crime incidents in Borderstan, up from 64.8% in 2010. Stolen cars, however, declined by nearly 24% from 192 in 2010 to 146 in 2011.
| Offense |
2010 Frequency |
2010 % |
2011 Frequency |
2011 % |
| Assault with a Deadly Weapon |
111 |
4.6 |
118 |
4.3 |
| Arson |
1 |
0.0 |
1 |
0.0 |
| Burglary |
203 |
8.4 |
213 |
7.7 |
| Homicide |
5 |
0.2 |
1 |
0.0 |
| Robbery |
322 |
13.3 |
301 |
10.9 |
| Sex Abuse |
15 |
0.6 |
16 |
0.6 |
| Stolen Auto |
192 |
8.0 |
146 |
5.3 |
| Theft |
816 |
33.8 |
845 |
30.7 |
| Theft from Auto |
748 |
31.0 |
1,115 |
40.5 |
| Total: |
2,413 |
100.0 |
2,756 |
100.0 |
What were the “hottest” blocks for crime incidents in 2011? The full year data paint a similar picture to our earlier analysis for the first ten months of 2011 (Crime in Borderstan: Do You Live on a “Hot” Street Block?). The 1400 block of P Street NW ended up as the “hottest” block, totaling 47 incidents, one more than the 1300 block of U Street NW. The top three blocks in terms of total incidents stayed the same in 2011 as in 2010.
There were some notable changes in the top 10 crime-ridden streets in 2011 compared to 2010. The 1000 block of U Street NW, for example, saw a sharp rise in incidents from 12 in 2010 to 35 in 2011. The 1400 block of R Street NW saw a marked decline from 30 incidents in 2010 to just 12 in 2011. This same block, however, was the site of an early evening shooting in November (Thursday 5pm Shooting, 1400 Block of R Street NW).
|
2011 |
2010 |
||||
|
Rank |
Street Block |
Crimes |
Rank |
Street Block |
Crimes |
|
1. |
1400 B/O P Street NW |
47 |
1. |
1400 B/O P Street NW |
46 |
|
2. |
1300 B/O U Street NW |
46 |
2. |
1300 B/O U Street NW |
43 |
|
3. |
1600 B/O Connecticut Avenue NW |
36 |
3. |
1600 B/O Connecticut Avenue NW |
37 |
|
4. |
1000 B/O U Street NW |
35 |
4. |
1500 B/O Connecticut Avenue NW |
35 |
|
5. |
1500 B/O Connecticut Avenue NW |
28 |
5. |
1400 B/O R Street NW |
30 |
|
6. |
1700 B/O P Street NW |
27 |
5. |
1400 B/O Rhode Island Avenue NW |
30 |
|
7. |
1200 B/O U Street NW |
26 |
7. |
Dupont Circle |
28 |
|
8. |
1700 B/O T Street NW |
25 |
8. |
1200 B/O U Street NW |
25 |
|
8. |
1900 B/O 14th Street NW |
25 |
9. |
1700 B/O Connecticut Avenue NW |
23 |
|
10. |
1800 B/O 14th Street NW |
24 |
9. |
1400 B/O U Street NW |
23 |
|
9. |
1700 B/O Massachusetts Avenue NW |
23 |
|||
An important reminder on these data and analyses: incidents can be reclassified or removed later, and so the numbers presented here should not be seen as exact and can be subject to later modification and correction.
Police Service Area 305 includes most of the U Street corridor east of 16th Street NW. (DC Citizen Atlas)
From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at [email protected].
About 40 residents attended the Police Service Area (PSA) 305 Community Meeting held Tuesday night at the Third District Station on V Street NW. A large number of residents living on 12th Place NW and surrounding streets were in attendance, in response to a spike in burglaries and other incidents in October.
PSA 305 covers much of the U Street corridor and also extends beyond Borderstan’s boundaries into Ledroit Park and areas surrounding Howard University.
Third District Commander Joseph Kishter called it the biggest turn out he had seen at a community meeting during his time in the Third District. The commander of PSA 305, Lieutenant Alberto Jova, and Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) addressed a number of resident concerns about crime and safety.
Crime Down, Back to September Levels
Lieutenant Jova reported that violent crime in PSA 305 was down 55 percent from October numbers and property crime was down 41 percent. However as Brian Card, Public Safety Co-Chair of the U Street Neighborhood Association, pointed out, while these declines are welcome news to PSA 305 residents, because of a rather dramatic crime increase in October, the declines more accurately reflect a return to previous (i.e., September) crime levels.
iPhone Thefts, Choronic Offenders
When asked what could explain the crime spike in October, Lieutenant Jova placed some of the blame on the release of the Apple iPhone 4S, which came out on October 14. As noted last week, robberies were up across Borderstan in October (Everyone Fears Robberies: Where and How They Occur in Borderstan). In October, 31 of the 44 October robberies in Borderstan occurred on or after October 14, and 18 of these 31 were in PSA 305.
Graham and Kishter also both pointed to the problem of a small number of chronic juvenile offenders committing crimes in PSA 305, particularly violent crimes. Kishter noted the frequent disappointment of police when juvenile arrests are not fully prosecuted. Graham detailed his efforts to ensure that a new law that eliminates confidentiality protections for chronic juvenile offenders is being properly implemented. This would allow the community to be better informed about the identities of juvenile repeat offenders.
Residents asked Kishter both what the department was doing to address crime and also for tips on how to avoid crime victimization. The Commander pointed to the use of the Crime Suppression Team (CST) as one tool to tackle problems that arise across the Third District, including those in the area of 12th Place. CST officers work in plain clothes and unmarked cars and have a more flexible schedule than standard PSA officers, allowing them to more easily “put out fires” as Commander Kishter noted.
He also described an “astronomical” number of arrests in PSA 305 in the past 60 days. He pointed out that the close to 200 arrests in the PSA are not necessarily the preferred way to deal with crime. He would much rather be preventing crime than responding to it through arrest.
Prevention Tips
In terms of prevention, Kishter stressed the importance of residents paying attention to what they are doing.
- Daytime Crime Patterns. He pointed out that while daytime violent crimes are only a small proportion of all violent crimes in PSA 305, they typically occur when individuals are using their phone or iPod and not paying attention to their surroundings. He recommended residents walk in crowds and go to areas where they feel comfortable.
- Home Security. To avoid property crime victimization, Commander Kishter encouraged residents to install home cameras and security systems. He noted that cameras not only deter potential offenders, but if a break-in does occur, footage from the home system is often very useful in solving the case.
- Call 911. Kishter also emphasized the importance of calling 911 whenever suspicious activity is observed. There is not a non-emergency number to reach the police, so 911 is the best way to report anything suspicious. The call taker can then dispatch the call at the appropriate priority level based on the information provided. The Commander told residents to provide the 911 call taker with as much information as possible regarding the physical appearance of any suspicious persons and the direction they are traveling. He pointed out that looking at the shoes of the individual can be especially useful, since offenders may change clothes after committing a crime, but they are less likely to switch their shoes.
New PSA Boundaries Coming in January
As of January 1, 2012, new PSA boundaries are expected to go into effect, as discussed before on Borderstan (Police Districts and PSAs Changing in Borderstan Area). The new PSA 305 will be smaller and largely restricted to the U Street corridor. No announcements have been made yet on PSA Lieutenants for the Third District once realignment occurs.
What constitutes a crime wave? A rise in one type of crime? A temporary spike? Is it how we talk about it and feel about a particular crime pattern? (Borderstan file photo)
Borderstan welcomes Maggie Barron to its list of contributors. She will be writing about numerous topics of interest that catch her eye here in Borderstan. She’s interested in many things, particularly the way cities work — or don’t — and why.
From Maggie Barron. You can reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @maggiebarron.
At the end of October, a friend told me that her house near U Street had been broken into. She was shocked, and even more so when police told her about several other recent break-ins nearby. “I never heard anything about those,” she said. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
We turned to the trusty internet, where it appeared that our entire neighborhood was in the midst of a crime wave. October crime in Police Service Area (PSA) 305 (covering the U Street area around 11th to 13th Streets NW), was at its highest level since the U Street Neighborhood Association started keeping track three years ago.
October crime was also up in Logan Circle, and there had been a rise in smash and grabs around 15th Street NW. Even DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier told reporters, “October is always one of our more challenging months.” My friend’s break-in just seemed to be part of a larger trend.
Or is it? What constitutes a “wave?” I expected to find some sort of range – like, you know you’re in an official crime wave if crime rises X% over Y amount of time. But according to Vincent Sacco’s book “When Crime Waves,” it’s quaint of me to think crime waves only have to do with the amount of actual crime. It has to do with our perceptions, too. He writes:
“…we can tell by reading a variety of cues whether or not [a crime wave] is under way. There is more talk about crime, more anxiety, more discussion in the media, more worry about what is to be done.”
Talk – check. Anxiety – check. Discussion in media – check. Worry – check! Who needs spreadsheets or statistics? I am in a crime wave.
Of course, crime did go up in October, and people who experience crime first-hand do not simply “perceive” it. But for the rest of us, it’s important to be informed consumers of crime data.
In September, crime in PSA 305 was down 10% from the same time the previous year. This year so far, burglary is down 18%. Assault with a gun is down. Assault without a gun is up. Theft from an auto is up. Theft of an auto is down. I don’t have any idea what these trends mean, and none of it makes my friend feel any better about her break-in.
I ran this post by Cody Telep, this website’s new crime reporter, who recently wrote about Borderstan’s worst blocks for crime. He pointed out that the majority of Americans believe that crime is getting worse – even though the numbers show that it’s actually getting better. And, they’ve felt this way for most of the past decade, while crime rates have dropped or stabilized. Even so, he thinks that residents do recognize real, sustained changes in crime (be they drops or increases) over the long term. It’s the short term changes that can throw us for a loop.
We may cling to our data, but at the end of the day our awareness of and proximity to crimes determines our perceptions, rather than the hard numbers. So as the news of crime ebbs and flows, be sure to stay safe and keep a healthy skepticism.
There were 39 violent crimes in the September 30-October 30 period. This compares to 25 in the prior 30 days and only 15 in the same time frame of 2010. (MPD Crime Database)
The monthly community meeting for Police Service Area (PSA) 305 is tonight, November 1, at 7 pm at the Third District Headquarters, 1620 V Street NW. PSA 305, which includes most of the U Street corridor and surrounding areas, has seen huge increases in several types of crimes in the past month. According to residents in the area, the increased crime seems to be in the 11th to 13th Street NW areas.
According to the MPD Crime Database, there have been 39 violent crimes in PSA 305 in the past 30 days (September 30-October 30) compared to only 15 in the same period of 2010. The number of robberies is triple what it was a year ago, with 33 reported in the past 30 days, compared to only 11 in the same timeframe of of 2010.
Burglaries, thefts, stolen auto and assaults are all up. The other huge increase is in thefts — 44 in the past 30 days compared to 17 in the same 30-day period of 2010.
By the Numbers
- September 30-October 30, 2010: 15 violent crimes and 79 property crimes (94 total crimes).
- August 30-September 30, 2011, period there were 25 violent crimes and 72 property crimes in PSA 305 (97 total crimes).
- September 30-October 30, 2011: 39 violent crimes and 128 property crimes (167 crimes).
There were 25 violent crimes in August in PSA 305. Of the total, 20 were robberies, 4 were assaults and 1 was a sex crimes. (MPD Crime Database)
From Matty Rhoades
Crime in the U Street area in August was down 14% on a Year-Over-Year (YOY) basis, with 83 reported crimes compared to 97 in August 2010. Fewer property crimes, notably burglaries and thefts from autos, drove down the total. There were 58 property crimes in August 2011, a 21% drop from the 73 in August 2010. The number of violent crimes was essentially unchanged on a YOY basis — there were 25 violent crimes in August 2011 compared to 24 in August 2010.
The numbers are from Police Service Area (PSA) 305, which covers the bulk of the U Street area plus neighborhoods around Howard University. All numbers are from the MPD Crime Database. Full numbers are in the chart at the bottom of this story.
- Violent Crime. There were 20 robberies last month (three with guns) compared to 17 the previous August (five with guns). The number of assaults declined slightly from five in August 2010 (one with a gun) to four last month (none with guns).
- Gun Crimes. The good news is that gun crimes decreased; there were three last month compared to six in August 2010.
- Property Crime. There were declines in burglaries, thefts from autos and stolen autos on a YOY basis in August 2011. The number of thefts increased.
3-Year Trend: 2008 to 2011
What does the three-year trend, 2008-1011, for the month of August show for PSA 305?
- Violent crime is down slightly –there were 28 violent crimes in August 2008 compared to 25 in August 2011.
- Property crime is down 37%. There were 120 property crimes in August 2008 compared to 83 in August 2011.
| Crime in Police Service Area 305: August1-31 | ||||||
| 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 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | Down 50% | Down 67% |
| Robbery without Gun | 10 | 7 | 12 | 17 | Up 42% | Up 70% |
| Robbery with Gun | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | Down 40% | Down 40% |
| Assault with Dangerous Weapon (no gun) | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | No change | Down 55% |
| Assault with Dangerous Weapon (with gun) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Down 100% | Down 100% |
| Total Violent Crime | 28 | 19 | 24 | 25 | Up 4% |
Down 11% |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 | 15 | 4 | Down 73% | No change |
| Theft | 21 | 20 | 22 | 28 | Up 27% | Up 33% |
| Theft from Auto | 54 | 42 | 29 | 20 | Down 31% | Down 63% |
| Stolen Auto | 13 | 3 | 7 | 6 | Down 14% | Down 54% |
| Arson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N.A. | N.A. |
| Total Property Crime | 92 | 69 | 73 | 58 | Down 21% | Down 37% |
| TOTAL CRIME | 120 | 88 | 97 | 83 |
Down 14% |
Down 31% |
All numbers are from the MPD Crime Database.
There were 16 violent crimes in July in PSA 305, down from 18 in July 2010. Of the total, 13 were robberies, 1 was an assault and 2 were sex crimes.
From Matty Rhoades
Both violent and property crime were down last month in the U Street NW area when compared to July 2010. The July MPD crime statistics for Police Service Area (PSA) 305 show a year-over-year (YOY) 65% decrease in violent crime and a 16% decrease for property crime. Total crime — both categories combined — is down 28% on a YOY basis for July.
There were 16 violent crimes in July in PSA 305 compared to 18 in July 2010. On the property crime side, there were 57 property crimes last month compared to 66 in July 2010. All numbers are from the MPD Crime Database. Full numbers are in the chart below.
Violent Crime. There were 13 robberies last month (one with a gun) compared to 146 the previous July (four with guns) in PSA 305. The number of assaults decreased from four in July 2010 (two with guns) to one last month.
Property Crime. Property crime decreased 14% on a YOY basis in PSA 305 due mostly to declines in thefts from autos (“smash and grabs”) and stolen autos. The number of burglaries increased (from three to five), and the number of thefts was up slightly from 23 to 26.
3-Year Trend Shows 46% Decline
What does the three-year trend, 2008-1011, for the month of July show for PSA 305? Violent crime is 24% lower while property crime is down 50%. Combined, total crime — property and violent crime combined — is down 46% for the month of July for the three-year time frame.
| Crime in Police Service Area 305: 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 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | N/A | Up 100% |
| Robbery without Gun | 9 | 6 | 10 | 12 | Up 20% | Up 33% |
| Robbery with Gun | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | Down 75% | Down 50% |
| Assault with Dangerous Weapon (no gun) | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | Down 50% | Down 86% |
| Assault with Dangerous Weapon (with gun) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Down 100% | Down 100% |
| Total Violent Crime | 21 | 14 | 18 | 16 | Down 11% |
Down 24% |
| Burglary | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | Up 67% | Down 16% |
| Theft | 17 | 35 | 23 | 26 | Up 13% | Up 53% |
| Theft from Auto | 74 | 44 | 29 | 19 | Down 34% | Down 74% |
| Stolen Auto | 18 | 8 | 11 | 7 | Down 36% | Down 61% |
| Arson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Total Property Crime | 115 | 89 | 66 | 57 | Down 14% | Down 50% |
| TOTAL CRIME | 136 | 103 | 84 | 73 |
Down 13% |
Down 46% |
The monthly public safety meeting of Police Service Area (PSA) 305 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, August 9, at 7 pm. (It was originally scheduled for August 2.) Location is DC Housing Finance Agency, 815 Florida Avenue NW. Representatives of MPD and Howard University Police will be there. Meetings are open to the public. PSA 305 serves the U Street neighborhood.
