WASHINGTON — A couple was robbed last weekend while pushing their baby in a stroller near 14th Street in D.C.
A man is now wanted in connection with the armed robbery, which occurred in broad daylight. And D.C. police have released video of the man who they think did it, as well as the car he got away in.
The robbery — which police say involved a knife as a weapon — happened in the 1400 block of Corcoran Street NW right around noon last Saturday.
The 14th Street area once had a reputation as a high crime area for many years, but recently it has become a trendy area that residents describe as safe.
“Now, you can walk at night,” said Ugo Fasano who has lived in the area for 30 years after growing up in Argentina. “You can even leave the door open and nothing happens … I heard sometimes from neighbors that a bike has been stolen or something like that. But as far as I know, nothing major.”
There’s a lot of reasons why residents feel safe. In large part, they said gentrification has cleaned up the area.
They said new restaurants have also drawn more people to the area and these people generally walk the streets in groups.
“When you have people around later in the evenings in large quantities, it does make it more difficult for opportunity crimes to happen,” said Jean-Pierre Leguillou.
He had lived in the neighborhood, but currently lives in Petworth. He still goes to a local gym.
Leguillou also credits greater police presence in the area for the improved safety.
D.C. has seen fewer crimes so far in 2017 when compared to the same time period in 2016.
Throughout the District, all reported crime is down by 8 percent and violent crime is down by 25 percent.
The better numbers are always reassuring, but crime still happens.
In fact, the 1400 block of Corcoran Street NW has seen a very small increase in the number of crimes reported so far in 2017 compared to the same time period in 2016.
“It’s a city. I’m a city boy, so I’m always aware of my surroundings,” Leguillou said. “It’s like a second sense … Generally speaking, I just feel fairly safe.”
