house on 100 block of R St NW broken into & items stolen

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Unfortunately, our house was robbed yesterday.

Our house (a rowhouse on the 100 block of R Street NW) was robbed yesterday - Thursday, March 10 between the hours of 3:30 and 5:30pm. Police were at the house from about 6:00 pm - 8:30pm investigating. Reports were filed and fingerprints were taken around the area of the break-in.

The perpetrators broke in through the front window on the ground level and stole all valuable electronics from 5 separate bedrooms (laptops, xbox and also a watch). They opened drawers, ruffled through closets and moved pieces of furniture in bedrooms seemingly looking for more valuables.

They left through the backdoor and left the door wide open. They also stole a black NorthFace backpack (probably to carry the stolen items out of the house with). Some new neighbors who were moving into the house next to us yesterday around the time of the break-in said they saw a black man and a hispanic man standing and loitering briefly on the front stoop one house down from us. This might not be related, but the perpetrators might have been trying to break into other houses also.

I am appealing to Bloomingdale neighbors to please report ANY suspicious behavior you might see around your neighborhood. This happened in the middle of the day during a very small window of time when nobody was home and all of our doors and windows were locked. Also, be very careful and diligent about locking up on bad weather days because this probably couldn't have happened on a nicer day - neighbors are almost always outside on our block on nicer days and would have witnessed a crime like this taking place so blatantly in the front of our house. Also, taking measures to hide valuables or removing them from your house when nobody is home might be advisable. The perpetrators seemed to have committed the robbery in a hurry and did not take everything they could have.

Please be on the look out and help your neighbors by reporting any suspicious behavior. Thank you.

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?