WASHINGTON — A growing number of street robberies in the nation’s capital is prompting a new way to deal with the crime.
“We know that a small group of repeat violent offenders target neighborhoods, like the one we’re in today,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser in a news conference at the top of the escalator at the Eastern Market Metro station.
Calling the 5 percent increase of robberies “an uptick,” Bowser said police have identified a crime pattern.
“People often go on robbery sprees, targeting several victims in a short period of time,” Bowser said.
D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said street crime continues to morph.
“Last year it was the run-by snatch of a cellphone robbery,” Lanier said. “What we’re seeing now is a small group — they will commit robbery after robbery after robbery — [up to] four, five, six in a night.”
Metro Transit Police Chief Ronald Pavlik said increased coordination will help deter robberies which overlap jurisdictions: “They’re occurring on the streets and come down into the system.”
With improved technology, including cameras, Pavlik and Lanier cited improved interaction between the agencies, as well as investments in technology.
Lanier and Attorney General Karl Racine spoke of the importance of getting more crime victims to assist in identifying suspects.
“If we have very strong forensics, video, and other intelligence information that helps support witness identification, that’s ideal,” Lanier said. “That makes witnesses a lot more comfortable and that makes cases a lot stronger.”
