500 block of T Street NW in LeDroit Park: violent home invasion

Some stale, but horrifying news:

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/01/crying-teenaged-girl-used-as-lure-for-violent-home-invasion-71967.html

more info on the recent muggings referenced in the prior blog entry

See this additional info from one of the people who was mugged:

``I`` was beaten up by 5 teens at North Capitol Street near the Liquor Store at 7pm, walking home alone from work, broad daylight. There were people around, nobody helped, and everybody pretended not to have seen his bag got stolen. He got away with just bruises.

``T`` was hit one time on the side of his head on North Capitol Street, also walking home from work, so probably also around 7pm, broad day light. We were in a group of 4, but two of us were ahead of him and his visiting niece.

``M1``, my boyfriend ``M2`` who`s visiting, and myself were mugged last Saturday night little after 1am at P & First NW. But they probably were following us from New York Av and First or something. They beat both M1 and M2, but M1 got the worst blow. They left me alone, until I started yelling at them to not do this to us and they decided to take my purse, one of the guys held me, they took my purse, and after that ran away. M2 my bf had already given off his wallet and cash. Might have been the same gang who attacked ``I`` -- approx 5 young guys who started by hitting hard from the back.

I would advise tenants to at least avoid North Capitol St. like the plague. In the early mornings it was always fine however. And just always take a cab home. It never crossed our mind last Saturday night, but yeah...

We have had a wonderful time here in DC, until the last few weeks... Summertime is the season for muggings is what we were told in the Howard University Hospital ER. They fix jaws all the times then, sadly!

mugging Saturday night, 5-30-2010, at 1st & T St NW

See this message received Sunday evening, May 30, 2010:

I own a house on Bates Street NW. I have had wonderful European tenants who were working on the Hill on human rights issues. As of last night, (Saturday) three young men have been mugged and beaten by teens who then robbed them. These three muggings and robberies happened over the past two to three weeks. Police were called two of the three times. I think the other two assaults were in the south side closer to New York Avenue.

Michele, the Dutch student, is now in the hospital with his jaw broken in three places and missing teeth from a mugging last night at First and T Streets NW. He has a concussion. It was nighttime. The other two muggings were on North Capitol Street in broad daylight. They were due to depart for Europe tomorrow after what they described as a great experience in Washington. Instead, Michele has to undergo surgery on (Memorial Day). I am very sad about this.

Please warn others in the neighborhood of what is happening, so they can be more vigilant. Where are the police?

feedback on 1st St NW home that broken into and the resident who was "bound with wire and tape"

First, see this message from Bloomingdale resident Joe Levesque regarding this recent crime reported on the MPD-5D list:

HORRIBLE CRIME IN BLOOMINGDALE ON 1700 FIRST ST
NW

FIRST STREET NW, 1700 block, 1:25 p.m. Oct. 16.
A man entered a residence and assaulted a person. The person was then bound with wire and tape. The assailant fled with property.

I can't believe that someone in Bloomingdale had to endure being bound with wire and held hostage while a thief steals their belongings. That person must have been deathly frightened not knowing if they would be killed in their own home. Note that this happened around noon time! This same awful scene happened a few years ago on the 2100 block of First St NW. A home owner, a strong 30 yr old male, went into the alley at 8 PM to empty the trash. He was abducted at gun point by 2 men lurking in the alley, taken into his house, and bound and gagged in the kitchen. He had two dogs, one ran upstairs, the other was shot. The assailants started to haul items out the rear door as the owner sat tied on the kitchen floor, wondering if he also would be killed. Neighbors noticed this activity and called 911. Police arrested the scumbags. The two owners said screw this, sold their house and moved to Washington state. They didn't feel safe in their own home anymore. Keep your doors locked at all times and call police if something seems odd.

Now read this feedback from a resident on the unit block of S Street NW:

Just wanted to make a follow-up comment in addition to Mr. Levesque's on the home invasion/robbery. I was shocked that I first read about this in the Bloomingdale email! We get the MPD updates and didn't hear anything - being from a smaller community, an event like this would have been front-page news, followed up with tips on what happened, what the risk factors were, what citizens should be looking out for (suspect, description - where are the "wanted" posters with the suspect's description?), and what you can do to protect yourself - in your own home - at lunch time no less. I'm always shocked these crimes are taking place right next door to us in broad daylight or even at 9 PM when all of our neighbors are home. I realize it's hard to hear through the brick rowhouses and hard to look out if you only have windows in the back, but please take a moment to look out your window if you hear shouting and take a moment to call 911 if you see something suspicious! I sometimes feel I'm completely alone walking down the deserted sidewalk at night, yet I know I'm surrounded by people inside their homes and since everyone's decks and yards are out back, the main streets are devoid of neighborhood "eyes". I'd also like to get more information as soon as possible from our police force on this home invasion, what the risk factors were for this individual and what we need to be looking out for!!

public safety

I dont even live in his ANC but i know that John Salatti is one of the more active and vocal ANC reps. He sent out this message for a "Neighborhood Safety Walk" that you might want to be a part of.

Here's his message:
The Bloomingdale Public Safety Initiative
Invites You to Our Next
Neighborhood Safety Walk
Join with your neighbors and walk the streets of Bloomingdale! A strong, diverse community presence will announce that this neighborhood does not tolerate: crime, drugs, violence, and prostitution! We also encourage a caring community where neighbors look out for neighbors and who appreciate what everyone brings to the community table.


THURSDAY, MAY 21TH, 7:00 p.m.

Meet at the corner of 1st and V Streets, NW
(kids and dogs welcome!)

We can do it!

John T. Salatti
Commissioner, ANC 5C04
(202) 986- 2592

jsalatti @ earthlink.net

"Together, Building a Better Bloomingdale"

news clip about the murder of Tecardo Ward at Tyler House

video here



read the article here

"WALK THE COMMUNITY FOR SAFETY" 3RD AND Q STREETS

a message from Anita Bonds:

PLEASE JOIN ME AND OTHERS TO "WALK THE COMMUNITY FOR SAFETY" ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2008 AT 6:15 AM . WE'LL MEET ON THE STEPS OF MT. SINAI BAPTIST CHURCH AT THE CORNER OF 3RD AND Q STREETS, NW. MPD WILL JOIN US. OBAMA HATS AVAILABLE. DRESS WARMLY. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: ANITA AT 202-550-0619

murder this morning?

i was told that there was a shooting on florida this morning. anyone know about it?


-some info here

-washington post blurb here
A woman was fatally stabbed this morning at a Metrobus stop in Northwest Washington in what D.C. police said was an apparent robbery or attempted robbery.

washington post article

nbc news

washington times mentions bloomingdale

Residents see bar as threat to calm
Fear return of crimes, drugs


At a recent community meeting, Mrs. Holliday expressed the thoughts of many older Bloomingdale residents.

"It's too fragile, this level of peacefulness and calm and cleanliness," she said. "We've had that less than six months and to bring in a major thing like that and the drug dealers are right back."


here is the article


Are you afraid of a tavern?
Do you see it as a threat?

con artists.

neighbors have been telling stories of a con artists claiming to be from Tulsa. call the police if you come across him.


a message from MPDC,


5D Community,

AS SPRING ARRIVES, MPDC WARNS RESIDENTSTO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR CON ARTISTS

While spring means the blooming of the cherry blossoms and other plants, it can also bring out con artists and other criminals seeking to profit from unsuspecting victims. Some of the most common cons and swindles this time of year are bogus home repair offers, fraudulent door-to-door charities, and individuals posing as police officers or bank investigators who claim to be investigating fraudulent tellers or counterfeit schemes. DC residents are urged to be wary of any "something-for- nothing" offers. Always ask for offers in writing, read over all contracts before you sign, and never agree to "cash-only" deals. Do not hesitate to check the credentials of anyone who comes to your door. Ask to see official identification and inspect it carefully. Legitimate organizations - especially real police officers - will not hesitate to comply. And if you have been victimized by a con artist, please call the police and report it. This is the only way that law enforcement can detect patterns and identify and apprehend offenders.

For more information about con games and swindles, click on:

http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1237,q,543147,mpdcNav_GID,1548.asp

Information, ideas, or comments?

KAYLIN CASTELLI, in MPDC's Office of Communications, at kaylin.castelli@ dc.gov

shooting on north capitol @ r street

anyone know what happened?

a commenter provided the link to the nbc news report
other stories here:

abc news
bloomingdale (for now) has two photos

PSA- crime

PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 1 (no joke!), 7:00 P.M.
ST. GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 2ND & U STREET NW


Neighbors,

The time has come for us all to take a stand about public safety in our area. Although crime in the Bloomingdale-LeDroit Park area has diminished considerably this decade, we still face more threats to public safety than any of us should have to deal with. And only by working together can we make the changes that will make Bloomingdale safer and even more livable than it is now.

Here is the first of several opportunities for us to act. On Tuesday, April 1st at 7:00 p.m. at St. George's Episcopal Church at U and 2nd Streets NW (enter from the alley), I am convening a meeting of neighbors who will determine the steps we want to take, what we will do to implement those steps, and what the timelines will be for getting things done. We will discuss strategies for bringing in other players.

For example, we will ensure that what comes out of this meeting integrates seamlessly with the upcoming efforts of the Bloomingdale Civic Association (Crime Prevention Strategies & Workshop, Saturday, April 12 at 9:00 a.m. to XM Satellite Radio). We will also be working closely with Commander Lamar Greene and the Fifth District, the Fifth District's Citizens Advisory Council (whose current chair is former ANC Robert Brannum), and the Police Service Area. Once we have set a course, we can then meet with these other players to discuss what neighbors want and are willing to do and develop a plan to achieve those goals.

We also bring to the neighborhood Mayor Fenty, Councilmember Thomas, Chief Lanier, the Executive Office of the Mayor and other District agencies that we will need to handle all the issues that go into a full-bore public safety effort. And that is also when we will all need to make our presence and our feelings known. The District will act if people come together with passion, with unity of purpose, and with clear action requests. We have the power, if we choose to wield it.

To do that, we need to work together. We need to 40-50 people to come out and say that they want change and will put out some time and effort to see that change occurs. And we will get people involved by giving neighbors enough options for what they can do that any of us can find something we can feel comfortable doing. Whether it is working on dealing with the city, setting up security cameras, writing letters to courts when people convicted of committing crimes in the neighborhood are sentenced, listing all the vacant houses that become attractions for criminal behavior, establishing relationships with youth, setting up a system where people can walk together to and from the Metro, checking where trees need trimming to help light the street, and on and on. We have things we can do. We will have a clear list of actions for us, for the police, and for the District to do.

And Together, We will Build a Better Bloomingdale.

John

P.S. If you can't come, drop me a line or give me a call. Let me know if you want to be involved and what you might be interested in doing.

John T. Salatti
Commissioner, ANC 5C04
Recording Secretary, ANC 5C
(202) 986-2592
jsalatti@earthlink.net
"Together, Building a Better Bloomingdale"

cops on segways

my wife tells me she saw a segway mounted officer followed by a mountain biking officer in the hood the other day.
i've seen them around the Capitol and in penn quarter, but is this a frequent occurrence in bloomingdale?

video of the robbery at ledroit park market

someone uploaded to youtube a video of the armed robbery of ledroit park market on July 10 at 2:00 pm. see it here.

ya think?

The washington post has an article about linking lead exposure to criminal activity.
"Sixty-five to ninety percent or more of the substantial variation in violent crime in all these countries was explained by lead."

Windows cafe was robbed

There was an armed robbery at Windows Cafe yesterday around noon. Noone was injured.