Crime: New ‘Thefts By Flash Mob,’ Parka Stealing, Porch Piracy, Mayor’s Metro Safety Moves
By • February 13, 2023 0 1938
Flash Mob Robbery
In our recent public safety report on youth crime trends in the District, we speculated that “dark web” social media tools could be fueling illicit activities by digitally savvy young offenders. Sure enough, a new trend – “flash mob robbery” – has appeared in city police lexicons. Using social media apps, perpetrators can anonymously post an announcement that in a “flash” a crime shall be committed by a crowd at a particular time and place. Following the crime-by-crowd, criminals can then disperse leaving no evidence of advanced coordination in the violations.
On Sunday, Feb. 12, NBC news ran the headline: “Flash Mob Robs Chanel Store in NW D.C.; Police Search for 10-15 Suspects.” The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) reported around 2 p.m. that a “felony theft by flash mob” took place at the French luxury fashion store at 955 I St. NW. According to the report, MPD said ten-to-fifteen “men or teenagers,” around 17-25 years-old were “wearing black masks and dark clothing during the robbery.” Fox5 news reported “one of the suspects sprayed a fire extinguisher causing a disturbance and loud noise. The suspects then took an undetermined amount of items including handbags without paying for them and left in multiple vehicles.” MPD reported the suspects escaped in getaway cars, suspected to be a White Infiniti vehicle following a Black Acura SUV. No weapons were used or injuries reported.
Surveillance photos of the suspects can be seen here:
MPD released these surveillance photos of the Chanel Flash Mob robbery.
Expect more flash mob robberies to come.
Porch Piracy in Georgetown
Meanwhile, Ring or other doorbell camera security systems appear to be capturing more Georgetown porch pirates in action. The Georgetowner received on Feb. 11 doorcam photographs from an N Street NW resident who said, “We caught the crime on our doorbell camera,” for a “package stolen last week.” According to the claim, the writer and her spouse had also seen “empty packages strewn along P Street, and several addresses were of our neighbors.” Pictures of the alleged theft were taken by a security camera on Jan. 30 at “around 7 p.m.” and purport to show “a man and woman walking side by side,” then after “walking past the house, the woman signals when she sees the package, [and] a few seconds later, the man wearing the hat comes to the front door and takes the Amazon package.”
Feb. 11 doorcam photographs from an N Street NW resident who said, “We caught the crime on our doorbell camera,” for a “package stolen last week.”
Georgetown Stabbing
Meanwhile a male victim is in the hospital following a stabbing in Georgetown late Tuesday night Feb. 7. According to WUSA9, MPD officers were called to the 1500 block of 34th Street NW near the campus of Georgetown University following reports of a “stabbing around 10:00 p.m.” Officers found a conscious and breathing man suffering from an apparent stab wound. At hospital, the victim’s injuries were described as “non-life-threatening.” MPD has not yet released suspect information and so far no arrests have been made.
Canada Goose Parka Thefts
On Feb. 2 we reported on the rash of pricey Canada Goose parka thefts – many in broad daylight against pedestrians sporting the designer winter jackets which can run from $500 to $2,000 – in Georgetown and the surrounding area. For video and photo surveillance updates from MPD and an overview of five recent police reports on such thefts, go here.
Georgetown BID and Main Street Call for Georgetown Public Safety Meeting
To discuss the “current crime situation in Georgetown, and provide tips and resources,” the Georgetown Business Improvement District (BID) and Georgetown Main Street (GMS) announced they will be holding a Georgetown Public Safety Meeting, 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 17 at the BID office at 1000 Potomac St. NW, Suite. 122. (The meeting is for BID members only.) Park Police and MPD officers will be there to speak and answer questions. RSVP to John Wiebenson at jwiebenson@georgetowndc.com, if you plan on attending.
Mayor’s Actions on Metro Safety
In response to recent alarms over shootings at D.C. Metro stations, Mayor Bowser and Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke announced on Feb. 8 a new partnership between Metro Transit Police and MPD. The partnership will “increase police presence and MPD will be the first partner,” an MPD press release stated.
“We know that residents and visitors want to see a strong police presence in our community, and that’s what this partnership will allow us to provide,” said Mayor Bowser. “When police are in the community, people feel safer and our officers can respond faster. Hundreds of thousands of people use Metro every day to move around D.C., and now, they can expect to see more MPD officers out during their commutes.”
“In recent months MTPD has increased patrols 30 percent at the busiest times, hired crisis intervention specialists, and bolstered our camera network to better fight crime, and this new partnership will further enhance our ability to keep customers safe,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Anzallo.
Concerning the move, MPD Chief Robert J. Contee said, “We know that healthy law enforcement partnerships within the District are an effective tool for public safety. This partnership between MTPD and MPD will allow us to work better together and ensure the safety of the residents and visitors in the District.”
Weekly Firearms Recovery Report
In their “Weekly Firearm Recoveries” report from Jan. 30 to Feb. 6, MPD reported taking 66 firearms off the streets of the District.
Local MPD Crime Reports
Today, Feb. 13, MPD reported seeking suspects in an “attempted unarmed carjacking offense” on the 1300 block of 14th St. NW. “At approximately 1:46 pm, the suspects approached the victim, who was inside of their vehicle, at the listed location,” the report said. “The suspects demanded that the victim exit the vehicle. When the victim exited the vehicle, one of the suspects pepper sprayed the victim. The suspects then fled the scene without obtaining the vehicle.”
On Feb. 10, MPD reported seeking suspects in a “Burglary Two of an Establishment Offense” in the 2400 block of 18th St. NW. “At approximately 9:10 am, the suspects forcibly gained entry into an establishment at the listed location. Once inside, the suspects took property and then fled the scene,” the report said.
On Feb. 10, detectives from MPD’s Third District requested public assistance in their search for suspects and vehicle in a “Robbery (Force and Violence) Offense” on the 2000 block of 8th St. NW. “At approximately 12:20 am, the suspects approached the victim at the listed location. The suspects assaulted the victim and took the victim’s property. The suspects then fled the scene in a vehicle,” the report said. According to MPD, suspects and vehicle were captured by a surveillance camera and can be seen in the photos below:
MPD released surveillance photo for incident at 2000 Block of 8th Street, Northwest.
On Feb. 8, MPD Third District detectives requested public assistance in their search for suspects in an “Armed Kidnapping (Gun) and Armed Robbery (Gun) Offense” on the 1500 block of Park Rd. NW. According to the report: “At approximately 2:20 pm, the suspects, who were in a vehicle, approached the victim at the listed location. One of the suspects brandished a handgun and demanded the victim enter the vehicle. The victim complied. The suspects then drove the victim away from the scene and demanded the victim’s property. The suspects dropped off the victim at another location then fled the scene.”
Per the MPD, the suspects and the suspects’ vehicle are described as:
- Suspect One: Hispanic female, approximately 5’7”, 25-30 years-old, wearing a black hooded jacket, blue jeans, and red/maroon mid-thigh boots.
- Suspect Two: Hispanic male, under 5’ in height, over 40 years-old, thin build, a cloudy left eye, goatee, wearing a white shirt with blue dots, black jacket, brown pants, and white shoes with red lines.
- Suspects’ vehicle: older model green in color minivan.
On Feb. 7, detectives from MPD’s Second District requested public assistance in their search for suspects in an “Armed Robbery (Gun) of an Establishment Offense” in the 1100 block of Connecticut Ave. NW. “At approximately 9:51 p.m., the suspects approached an employee at the listed location. One of the suspects brandished a handgun and demanded money. The employee complied and the suspects fled the scene,” the report said. According the MPD, the suspects were captured by a surveillance camera and can be seen in the photos below:
MPD released surveillance video from incident at 1100 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW.
On Feb. 6, detectives from MPD’s Second and Third Districts requested public assistance in locating a suspect in reference to “Robbery offenses” in the two districts. Per the MPD report, the following describes the alleged robberies:
- On Thursday, February 2, 2023, at approximately 1:22 am, the suspect forcibly entered an establishment in the 1900 block of 18th Street, Northwest. The suspect threatened the victim and demanded money. The suspect then took the cash register and fled the scene. On Friday, February 3, 2023, at approximately 7:17 pm, the suspect entered an establishment in the 1900 block of 18th Street, Northwest. The suspect threatened the victims and demanded money. The suspect then took the money and fled the scene.
- On Friday, February 3, 2023, at approximately 7:26 pm, the suspect entered an establishment in the 2200 block of 18th Street, Northwest. The suspect threatened the victim and demanded money. The suspect then took the money and fled the scene.
The suspect was captured by a surveillance camera and can be seen in the photos below and in this video: https://youtu.be/wIZ6UWUc3Ns.
On Feb. 8, MPD Third District detectives requested public assistance in their search for a suspect in an “Armed Kidnapping (Gun) and Armed Robbery (Gun) Offense” in the 1500 block of Park Road NW. According to the MPD press release, “At approximately 2:20 pm, the suspects, who were in a vehicle, approached the victim at the listed location. One of the suspects brandished a handgun and demanded the victim enter the vehicle. The victim complied. The suspects then drove the victim away from the scene and demanded the victim’s property. The suspects dropped off the victim at another location then fled the scene.”
Per the MPD, the suspects and the suspects’ vehicle are described as:
- Suspect One: Hispanic female, approximately 5’7”, 25-30 years-old, wearing a black hooded jacket, blue jeans, and red/maroon mid-thigh boots.
- Suspect Two: Hispanic male, under 5’ in height, over 40 years-old, thin build, a cloudy left eye, goatee, wearing a white shirt with blue dots, black jacket, brown pants, and white shoes with red lines.
- Suspects’ vehicle: older model green in color minivan.
