Crime: Organized Theft Groups, Grim Year-to-Date Stats, Local Reports
By • July 31, 2023 0 1116
Compounding local crime concerns, a new illicit phenomenon – Organized Theft Groups (OTGs) – have arrived in northwest D.C., terrifying shoppers and bystanders and forcing shops and stores to hire armed guards and to hide even their non-pricey wares behind lock and key.
“In D.C. and its suburbs, property crimes are on the rise, and the attention paid to them perhaps even more so — as posts on neighborhood email groups and viral videos documenting brazen criminal activity rocket around the internet, damaging the sense of safety across even the region’s safest, wealthiest neighborhoods,” the Washington Post reported July 28.
“One organized theft ring, police say, has hit dozens of retailers throughout the D.C. area, slamming a crowbar into glass cases at an Ulta beauty store and stealing thousands of dollars from the Nike store in downtown Bethesda; police say they believe [the perpetrators] had buyers for the goods lined up in advance. At CVS locations across the District, videos have captured masked interlopers sweeping shelves clean of soap, beauty products and laundry detergent, and then running out with the goods in trash bags. Some residents said in interviews they noticed armed guards at their convenience stores for the first time this spring, or found more and more items taken off the shelves and locked away. The incidents sometimes turn violent: One CVS manager in Silver Spring was stabbed in April after chasing a man who stole from his store.”
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser recently signed legislation allowing pretrial detention for juveniles accused of certain violent offenses and she appointed Pamela E. Smith July 17 as the District’s new Chief of Police, with crime-fighting as her administration’s top priority. “We’re concerned about all kinds of crime,” the mayor said at a news conference Monday as reported by the Post, where she discussed the surging number of auto thefts. “Property crime is a crime that’s got [MPD’s] attention as well.”
Grim Year-to-Date Crime Stats for D.C. and Georgetown
But a look at year-to-date crime statistics published on MPD’s website reveals an alarming rise in crimes across nearly every category in the District, making Smith’s job all the more challenging. “All crimes went up by 4,477 citywide during the past 1 year-to-date…,” the site reports for July 31.
And the percentages look out of control. “Motor Vehicle Theft” up 117 percent. “Homicide” up 17 percent. “Sex abuse” up 23 percent. “Assault with a Dangerous Weapon” up 5 percent. “Robbery” up 63 percent. “Violent Crime” up 38 percent. “Theft from Auto” up 1 percent. “Theft/Other” up 24 percent. “Arson” up 300 percent. “All Property Crime” up 29 percent. “All Crime Total” up 30 percent.
And Georgetown is not immune from these crime waves. A look at “Carjacking” statistics for Ward 2 reveals a 160 percent increase, 77 percent of which were committed with guns. Also alarming, the great majority of carjacking offenders across the District in the past year were 15-year-olds. A bar graph shows this age-cohort at more than 3-times the number of any age for adults accused of carjacking in the city.
Carjacking Spree Across District by 15, 16 and 17-Year-Olds
Speaking of youth carjacking offenses… On July 29, detectives from MPD’s Carjacking Task Force announced four arrests in reference to “Armed Carjacking (Gun) and Armed Robbery (Gun) offenses” across the District. “In each of the below offenses,” the press release stated, the “suspect(s) brandished handgun(s) and demanded the victim’s vehicle” and then absconded in the stolen car:
- Armed Carjacking (Gun): On Monday, July 3, 2023, at approximately 4:25 p.m., the 1600 block of Eckington Place, Northeast. The victim’s vehicle has been recovered.
- Armed Carjacking (Gun): On Thursday, July 20, 2023, at approximately 12:35 a.m., in the 2000 block of 12th Street, Northwest. The victim’s vehicle has been recovered.
On Friday, July 28, 2023, a 16-year-old juvenile male, of Southwest, D.C., was arrested and charged with the above two offenses.
In each of the below offenses, the suspects, while on a motorcycle, approached the victim, who was also on a motorcycle. The suspect(s) brandished handgun(s) and demanded the victim’s motorcycle.
- Armed Carjacking (Gun): On Sunday, July 9, 2023, at approximately 8:01 p.m., in the 1800 block of Benning Road, NE.
- Attempted Armed Carjacking (Gun): On Sunday, July 9, 2023, at approximately 7:50 p.m., in the 1000 block of North Carolina Avenue, SE.
- Attempted Armed Carjacking (Gun): On Monday, June 10, 2023, at approximately 7:43 pm, in the 1400 block of New York Avenue, NW.
- Armed Carjacking (Gun): On Monday, July 10, 2023, at approximately 7:47 pm, the suspects, in the 1500 block of 11th Street, NW.
On Friday, July 28, 2023, a 15-year-old juvenile male of Southeast, D.C., was arrested and charged.
In each of the below offenses, the suspects approached the victim(s), who were in a vehicle. The suspects brandished handguns and demanded the vehicle from the victim(s). The suspects then fled the scene in the vehicle.
- Armed Carjacking (Gun): On Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at approximately 12:09 a.m., at 10th Street and S Street, NW. The victim’s vehicle has been recovered.
- Armed Carjacking (Gun): On Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at approximately 1:45 a.m., in the 6900 block of Blair Road, NW. The victim’s vehicle has been recovered.
- Armed Carjacking (Gun): On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at approximately 1:00 a.m., in the 2200 block of Monroe Street, NE.
- Armed Carjacking (Gun): On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at approximately 2:50 a.m., at Lincoln Road and R Street, NE.
- Armed Carjacking (Gun): On Thursday, July 27, 2023, at approximately 9:02 p.m., in the 3000 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.
- Armed Carjacking (Gun): On Thursday, July 27, 2023, at approximately 9:02 p.m., in the 1300 block of F Street, NW.
- Armed Carjacking (Gun): On Thursday, July 27, 2023, at approximately 10:47 p.m., at 11th Street and H Street, NE. The victim’s vehicle has been recovered.
In each of the below offenses, the suspects approached the victim(s). The suspects brandished handguns and demanded property from the victim(s). The suspects took the property then fled the scene.
- Armed Robbery (Gun): On Thursday, July 27, 2023, at approximately 6:15 a.m., in the 1200 block of W Street, SE.
- Armed Robbery (Gun)/ Theft One (Stolen Auto): On Thursday, July 27, 2023, at approximately 6:21 am, in the 1400 block of Good Hope Road, SE.
- Armed Robbery (Gun)/ Theft One (Stolen Auto): On Thursday, July 27, 2023, at approximately 4:26 pm, in the 1300 block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE.
On Friday, July 28, 2023, a 16-year-old juvenile male, of Southwest, DC, a 17-year-old juvenile male, and two 15-year-old juvenile males, all of Southeast, D.C., were arrested and charged with the above ten offenses. “The 16-year-old juvenile male, of Southwest, D.C., and one 15-year-old juvenile male, of Southeast, D.C., mentioned here are also mentioned above,” the report said.
Local Crime Reports
On July 30, detectives from MPD’s Fourth District requested public assistance in locating a suspect in reference to an “Armed Robbery (Gun) of an Establishment offense” on July 29 in the 4000 block of Georgia Ave. NW. “At approximately 11:51 p.m., the suspect entered an establishment at the listed location [and] Once inside, … brandished a handgun and demanded money,” the report said. “The employee complied. The suspect [then] took money [and] fled the scene. The suspect was captured by a nearby surveillance camera and can be seen in the photos below:”
On July 30, detectives from MPD’s Second District requested public assistance in locating a suspect in reference to an “Attempted Armed Robbery (Gun) of an Establishment offense” on July 30 in the 1800 block of Wisconsin Ave. NW. “At approximately 12:15 a.m., the suspect entered an establishment at the listed location… brandished an object that appeared to be a handgun and demanded money from the employee,” the report said. “The employee stated they did not have any money. The suspect [then] took property from the establishment [and] fled the scene. The suspect was captured by a nearby surveillance camera and can be seen in the photos below:”
On July 30, detectives from MPD’s Sexual Assault Unit announced an arrest in reference to “Misdemeanor Sexual Abuse offenses” on July 28 in the 500 block of 11th St. NW. “Between 5:00 p.m. and 5:16 p.m., the suspect approached the victims separately, inside an establishment, at the listed location,” the report said. “The suspect engaged in unwanted sexual contact with both victims [and was] apprehended by responding officers. On Friday, July 28, 2023, 32-year-old Sedale Hackett, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged.
On July 28, detectives from MPD’s First District requested public assistance in identifying and locating a suspect in reference to a “Burglary Two of an Establishment offense” on June 20 in the unit block of F St. NW. “At approximately 6:12 a.m., the suspect forced entry into an establishment at the listed location. Once inside, the suspect took money and property, then fled the scene,” the press release said. “The suspect was captured by surveillance cameras and can be seen in the photos below and in this video:” https://youtu.be/6JcptbkSJrU
On July 28, detectives from MPD’s Fourth District requested public assistance in identifying and locating a suspect in reference to a “Burglary Two of an Establishment offense” July 28 in the 3700 block of Georgia Ave. NW. “At approximately 7:52 a.m., the suspect forced entry into an establishment at the listed location,” the report said. “Once inside, the suspect took money then fled the scene. The suspect was captured by a surveillance camera and can be seen in the photo below:”
On July 27, detectives from MPD’s Fourth District announced an arrest in reference to an “Armed Robbery (Gun) offense” July 23 in the 800 block of Quakenbos St. NW. “At approximately 7:44 a.m., the suspect approached the victim at the listed location,” the report said. “The suspect brandished a handgun and took the victim’s property. The suspect was apprehended by responding officers. A BB gun was recovered from the suspect.” On July 23, a 16-year-old juvenile male of Northwest, D.C. was arrested and charged with “Armed Robbery (Gun)” and “Possession of BB Gun.”
On July 27, detectives from MPD’s Homicide Branch announced an investigation into a homicide that occurred on July 26 in the 2200 Champlain Street, NW. “At approximately 8:24 p.m., Third District officers responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting,” the report said. “Upon arrival, officers located an adult male shooting victim. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene, and after finding no signs consistent with life, the [victim’s body] remained on the scene until transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The decedent has been identified as 30-year-old Arnold Humberto Solis, of Northwest, D.C.”
On July 25, detectives from MPD’s Carjacking Task Force announced an arrest in reference to an “Unarmed Carjacking Offense” July 25 in the 4000 block of 14th St. NW. “At approximately 5:27 a.m., the suspects’ vehicle struck the victim’s vehicle from the rear,” the report said. “One of the suspects assaulted the victim. The suspects then fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle. One of the suspects was apprehended by responding officers. The victim’s vehicle has been recovered. On July 25, a 13-year-old juvenile female of Northwest, D.C., was arrested and charged with “Unarmed Carjacking.”
On July 25, detectives from MPD’s Third District requested public assistance in locating a suspect in reference to a “Robbery (Snatch) offense” July 25 in the unit block of Hanover Place, NW. “At approximately 7:15 a.m., the suspect approached the victim from behind at the listed location,” the report said. “The suspect [then] snatched property from the victim’s pocket [and] fled the scene. The suspect was captured by a surveillance camera and can be seen in the photo below:”
On July 24, detectives from MPD’s Third District requested public assistance in identifying and locating a suspect in reference to an “Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Gun) offense” July 23 in the 1500 block of 7th St. NW. “At approximately 1:37 a.m., officers responded to the listed location in reference to a shooting,” the report said. “Upon arrival, [they] located an adult male shooting victim inside an establishment. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect was captured by surveillance cameras and can be seen in the photos below:”
Stolen Auto Arrests in Northwest D.C.
On July 28, MPD announced recent “Stolen Auto” arrests in the District. For Northwest D.C., they included:
- 34-year-old Lawrence Bailey, of Northwest, D.C., was arrested for a “Theft One (Stolen Auto) offense” in the 1300 block of North Capitol Street, NW.
- A 15-year-old juvenile male, of Largo, MD, and a 14-year-old juvenile male, of Northwest, DC, were arrested for an Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle offense in the 2500 block of 14th St., NW.
- 24-year-old Damion Bullock, of Northeast, D.C., was arrested for an “Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle offense” in the 800 block of 7th Street, NW.
- 37-year-old Taiquawn Alexander, of Southeast, D.C., was arrested for an “Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle offense”in the 1800 block of Wiltberger Street, NW.
- 20-year-old William Harris, of Southeast, D.C., and 18-year-old Breaniyah Todd, and 18-year-old Gerimyah Briscoe, both of Northwest, D.C., were arrested for an “Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle offense” in the 1600 block of Vermont Avenue, NW.
Weekly Firearm Recoveries
On July 27, MPD issued its “Weekly Firearm Recoveries” report for July 17 through 24. According to the report, 69 firearms were taken off the city’s streets. Of the 46 suspects named in the report, 19 were 21-years or younger, with 6 listed as 16-years-old or younger. One listing reported “a Smith & Wesson SD40VE .40 caliber handgun was recovered in the 2500 block of 14th St. NW. The following person was arrested: 15-year-old male juvenile of Largo, MD, for Leaving after Colliding, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, No Permit, Receiving Stolen Property, Carrying a Pistol without a License, Possession of Unregistered Ammunition, Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, Receiving Stolen Property, and Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device.”
Police Notes from Nextdoor
MPD’s Second District recently reported on Georgetown’s Nextdoor App the following alarming account of an alleged carjacking at the intersection of Foxhall and Canal Roads, NW: “Assault Dangerous Weapon – Gun: On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at approximately 11:56 p.m., a dark colored sedan pulled in front of the victim’s vehicle at the intersection of Foxhall and Canal Rd NW. 3 black male suspects wearing black hoodies, armed with handguns exited the sedan and pointed the weapons at the victim. The victim then placed his car in reverse and escaped to a safe location and called the police. Anyone with information regarding this incident please call 202-727-9099 or text #50411.”
Police also reported a string of Honda steering wheel airbag thefts on the app. “Honda Steering Wheel Airbag Thefts: July 26: The Second District experienced a spate of airbag thefts targeting Honda vehicles last night. The pattern involves shattering the driver’s side window and then removing the airbag from the steering wheel. Please exercise care parking your Honda to make it more difficult for the theft to occur. The use of a “club”- like device to secure the airbag is also recommended. We expect more thefts to occur until the thieves are caught.”
Police listed this site for information on a free D.C. clinic on how to install anti-theft upgrades on Hyundai vehicles.
