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Burglaries and Thefts on the Rise in DC

  • March 28th 2011

by Mark Wellborn

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Burglaries and Thefts on the Rise in DC: Figure 1
DC police. By Neil Cooler.

Property crimes, specifically burglaries and thefts, have risen notably in the District in 2011, The Washington Post reports.

Compared to last year at this time, burglaries (breaking and entering) are up 18 percent and thefts are up 23 percent citywide. In Dupont Circle, burglaries have more than tripled so far in 2011, and thefts have risen 65 percent in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River.

From The Post:

The presence of crime can be deceptive, said Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans, who represents neighborhoods including Dupont Circle and Georgetown. Police agree, noting bustling commercial strips where thieves make quick work of iPhones sitting on tables while their owners sip coffee.

“Everything feels safe, and you forget you’re in an inner-city neighborhood,” Evans said. In his ward, property crime has increased 46 percent this year over the same period in 2010.

Smartphones appear to be a prime target for thieves. Police in Columbia Heights have told people who have their phones out to put them away, and the rise of iPhone thefts on the Metro has been well documented.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/burglaries_and_thefts_on_the_rise_in_dc/3232.

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