WASHINGTON — Nine youths between the ages of 12 and 17 were arrested last week for several robberies and attempted robberies, D.C. police said.
“It is unusual for juveniles of that age range to commit crimes such as a robbery,” said Karimah Bilal, of the police office of communications.
These youths were among 19 people been arrested by D.C. police in mid-October for street robberies.
Some of the offenses, according to the police:
- A 13-year-old girl tried to snatch someone’s cellphone out of their hands Oct. 17 in the 700 block of 7th Street Northwest.
- Two boys, ages 12 and 13, tried to steal a woman’s purse in Southeast D.C. on Oct. 19. Then, the same 13-year-old boy took another woman’s cellphone about an hour later.
- A 14-year-old was one of four people who approached someone and used force to rob them on Mount Olivet Road, in Northeast D.C., on Oct. 15.
- Two 16-year-old boys were arrested for two robberies where there was possible use of a handgun. Both robberies took place in the 2500 block of Elvans Road Southeast on separate dates.
- A 17-year-old boy was arrested for taking someone’s cellphone while possibly using a knife on Oct. 13.
Police point out that, despite the recent string of robberies and the arrests of juveniles, robberies are down in the city 8 percent so far this year compared with last year.
