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Concerning Violent Crimes

August 21st, 2012 by Jon Penndorf · 7 Comments · Capitol Hill, DC

uploaded to flickr.com by jayneandd

If you’re not on vacation these last weeks of summer break you’ve probably heard about at least one of the violent assault crimes that occurred in Southeast on Capitol Hill.  Late Friday evening/early Saturday morning Hill resident Thomas Maslin was found in serious condition on the front steps of a home near Eastern Market, badly beaten.  He is still (at the time of this writing) in the hospital in serious condition.  That same morning DC Alerts, the “unofficial twitterfeed of the official AlertDC system,” reported a stabbing on the 1800 block of Independence Avenue SE.  And close to midnight on Sunday, August 12 there was report of a robbery with baseball bat at 14th Street and Massachusetts Avenue SE.  While Capitol Hill is not immune to crime, it is unusual for the area to experience this level of violence in addition to robberies and break-ins.According to a recent Washington Post article, violent crime is up in the area surrounding Eastern Market.  The Metropolitan Police Department reports an increase in robberies with and without guns, and an increase in assaults over this time last year.

These recent reports are troubling to Hill residents.  While all three recent incidents occurred in late evening or early morning hours, we as a neighborhood have pride in out ‘liveable, walkable community” and relish in the ability to stroll through the Hill and interact with each other at any time.  It’s a benefit to be able to walk to or from basic services, restaurants, public transit stops and friends’ homes.  A feeling of safety comes with that benefit, but we cannot take that feeling for granted.  The MPD provides a number of tips and suggestions on their website for safety while walking, jogging and running as well as in many other scenarios, but some are worth noting here in summary:

  • Stay alert when walking, especially in the evenings when visibility is limited.
  • Don’t wear headphones or earphones as they hinder your ability to hear others as well as signal to would-be robbers the fact that you have an electronic device on you.
  • When possible, go running or jogging with a buddy or a dog.
  • Don’t walk with your face buried in a smart phone.
  • Stay in well-lit areas.

As a long-term DC area resident and while attending college in NE DC, I’ve been given many a safety talk.  I would add a few more suggestions.

  • If anything looks suspicious or off to you, call the police.
  • If you notice streetlights that are out, report them to the city’s call center at 311.
  • If you’re intoxicated, don’t walk home alone.  Call a taxi, ask the bartender to call you one, or ask a friend for assistance.  Drunken walking not only makes you an easier target for crime, you can also injure yourself.  Obviously, don’t drive home alone, either.
  • Possibly my favorite safety advice ever comes from a long-time security officer at Catholic University.  She tells all incoming freshmen if you feel unsafe because of someone near you while you are walking home, move from the sidewalk to the middle of the street and if necessary, start singing loudly.  The center of the street is often better lit than sidewalks because of tree cover along the curbs, there are more options should you need to change direction, and loud singing at night may draw attention from neighbors inside their homes.  This is probably not the best advice for busier avenues, but would increase visibility.

 

 

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  • http://twitter.com/jaybeas Jay Williams

    Here’s kind of a random tip: If you have an iPhone, make sure “Find my iPhone” is enabled, and your significant other/roomate/whoever is able to access it to locate your device, either through the iCloud website or the app on their phone. If something ever happens, there is a slight chance Find My iPhone (or a similar program on Android/Windows phones) could be used to locate you (or the person who has your phone).

  • 8th Street

    Running with a dog might make you feel safer, but it’s not safe for the dog– especially in the summer when he or she can become overheated easily. Also, it bothers me that people recommend cabs as a safe alternative to walking. Cab drivers frequently assault women and LGBT individuals who are traveling alone late at night (it’s happened to me and others I know). Buses are a better option, in my opinion. If you must take a cab, spend a few extra dollars on Uber which holds their drivers more accountable for their actions. Don’t take cabs while intoxicated, either. Remember that you are at the mercy of the guy driving the cab, so you absolutely must be alert about where he’s taking you and be ready to escape if anything looks suspicious.

    • ac_blaster

      Buses are only a better option if your destination is near a stop or the rest of your walk is in a fairly busy area. Also, I don’t think it’s fair to say that cab drivers “frequently assault” people, though it certainly does happen and should be a concern.

      • 8th Street

        I say frequently because any crime that happens often enough to form a noticeable pattern is happening too often! Anyway, it’s all about reducing the risk. Yes, you might have to walk three blocks from the bus stop to your home, but that’s better than walking ten blocks from the bar or getting in a stranger’s vehicle. Our neighborhood is very well served by buses and more people should take advantage of them.

  • Jon_Penndorf

    I am not going to speak for MPD, but I think the dog suggestion was more about not walking or running alone, especially in the dark. You know your dog better than others, so you make e call whether or not to take him other for a run.

    A bus may be a good option too, but the walk from a bus stop to your home could be just as risky. The bigger point is to not be alone, especially if you are impaired.

    • 8th Street

      True, but it’s not always possible to tell if your dog is exhausted or overheated until it’s too late. I just saw a guy running with two little dogs on a 100+ degree day, which I’m sure was not good for them.

  • wmichaeljones

    My advice would be that if you feel threatened or worried, do whatever makes YOU feel safer; don’t worry that you might be overreacting. Last year I was mugged at 14th and E SE while walking from the metro to my house (2 blocks away) around 8:30 pm. Two suspicious guys on the other sidewalk jaywalked to come to my sidewalk about 30 yards in front of me. I should have followed my gut and crossed the street myself to avoid walking by these guys. Instead I worried about how that would look, told myself not to make assumptions, and felt relief when they walked past me. And then one of them turned around, ran up behind me and hit me in the head.