City Under Siege: More than 800 carjackings reported in DC this year
City Under Siege: More than 800 carjackings reported in DC this year
New data shows there have been over 800 carjackings in D.C. this year – more than double the total number of carjackings reported in 2022. That means the District is averaging almost three carjackings per day since the top of the year.
WASHINGTON - New data shows there have been over 800 carjackings in D.C. this year – more than double the total number of carjackings reported in 2022. That means the District is averaging almost three carjackings per day since the top of the year.
Now, Metropolitan Police are looking for a group involved in one of the most recent armed carjackings in Southeast.
Around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, officers were called to the 4200 block of 53rd Street where a man had just been carjacked at gunpoint.
Video released by police showed a black Nissan park behind a Jeep Cherokee on 53rd Street. Police say three suspects hopped out of the car and approached the driver of the jeep with a rifle and handguns.
One suspect told the driver to "give it up" and he did just that, handing over the keys to his car. The suspects drove away in his car, along with the fourth suspect driving the Nissan.
As of Oct. 22, there have been 806 carjackings in the District. That’s compared to 387 at this time last year. Police say they have made 127 arrests in this year's cases.
Long-time D.C. resident Marie Wilkins was shocked when FOX 5 showed her video of what happened on her street. She says the crime is out of hand and something has to change – immediately.
"Well, when I first moved here, it was good," Wilkins said.
She’s lived in this Southeast community since 1976 but says recently, things started changing. Her car window was shattered back in May.
"When it came to this year, my car got broken when it broke out of but a group of kids," Wilkins said. "It's disappointing to know that I'm sitting here right at home, car in my driveway, didn't even hear the windows pop out until I heard a lot of kids voices."
As we’ve seen throughout the region, juvenile crime is a major concern.
According to MPD, 64 percent of carjacking arrests involve juveniles.
"Right now, I guess is just rampant with the kids around," Wilkins said.
Anyone with information on the carjacking on 53rd Street is asked to contact police at 202-727-9099 or text a tip to police at 50411.