Carjackings Outrage and Frighten Residents

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The recent spate of carjackings, many occurring  in PSA 103 between 12th and 14th Streets, NE, and E and F Streets, NE, have started to alarm Hill residents who think this is more of an epidemic than a run of bad luck. The incidents have also disturbed some parents of young children as some of the victims have been mothers, including one who was with her two small children when she was carjacked at gunpoint.

As parents will tell you, removing young children from a car is a cumbersome process and there is a fear a carjacking will occur without time to unbuckle, unload, get the kids and the family dog out.

There have been at least nine carjackings or attempts in the past two months, according to one resident’s tabulations. The most recent occurred on Sunday afternoon while a mother was getting her two young children out of her car, according to a poster on the MPD-1D listserv.  Residents say they are increasingly  worried about the rate of recidivism, as many of the offenders  involved appear to be juveniles and because the carjackings have continued despite arrests.

In response to the recent armed carjackings in our neighborhood, there will be a community meeting at Options School at 6:30 PM on Monday December 21st. The ANC, who organized the meeting with Councilmember Wells,  has invited 1st District Commander Kamperin, former Commander Diane Groomes, PSA 103 Lt. Caldwell, the Mayor’s Ward 6 representatives and numerous to discuss community concerns and actions being taken.  Options Public Charter School is located at 1375 E Street, NE.

Members of the community are firing off letters to Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, who promotes a livable, walkable community and also created  a juvenile crime  task force a year ago.

One parent, who was not with her nine-month-old baby at the time, shared her story. On Dec. 4, at 5:50 pm a group of about three  young men attacked her and attempted a carjacking.

“I got out of my car after parking a house or two down from mine. When I got out I saw someone with his hood up walking up the street on the driver side of parked cars about five cars back. I thought that was odd but if I took pause to every suspicious thing I see I’d never get anywhere. Anyway, I stepped onto the sidewalk and suddenly had three guys on me. I had my phone and wallet in my hands and key ring around my finger. They didn’t say what they wanted so I clung to everything and screamed bloody murder.  One punched me while one grabbed my phone and the car key. They left my wallet. They then went to start the car but couldn’t get it started and ran once people started showing up,” she said. The car was a loaner with a push button start ignition, which befuddled the assailants.

She described her attackers  as “three African-American males, two probably 16 or 17 years-old, one possibly a young adult. All wore black North Face jackets. The one that I sort of honed in on was shorter, 5’7 or 5’8, medium complexion, and short loose braids or dreads.”

When asked for a response  to the continued carjacking activity, Commander David Kamperin posted to the listserv, “We understand the concerns and frustrations regarding this. We have made several arrests and have deployed additional resources to the area- to include PSA uniform personnel and plain clothes officers from our Crime Reduction Team (CRT). We’re also working closely with the Carjacking Task Force. ”

Police are also visiting homes and residents, according to Renato Caldwell of MPD-1D, with officers detailed to the area going door to door gathering and sharing information.  After the officers visit the residents, they continue to actively patrol the area.

“Any resident who would like to meet the officers while they are in the area please advise as the officer can walk with them or meet them,” Caldwell stated.  “This can be done any day as the level of patrol has substantially increased,” he told the MPD-1D listserv.

The CRT units are, of course,  undercover, and won’t be spotted (hopefully).

Residents are also frustrated with the advice to park in well-lighted areas when that often results in a parking ticket, forcing residents to pony up fines to feel safe, although they break the 25-from-corner law.

Kamperin added the admonition to “trust your feelings, if you see something that’s out of place or suspicious drive on. Contact either 911 to respond to check out the activity. If you have someone waiting for you at home, call him / her let them know what you’re doing and that you’ve notified the police because of the suspicious activity.”

Be careful out there.  That’s me, not him.