Tues. October 7, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC— A total of 150 crimes occurred within the boundaries of the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) in the month of September, 116 of which were non-auto theft, according to the latest crime report released by the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and analyzed by the BID.
This and more information is now available to the public virtually via the BID’s free online crime map.
The DowntownDC BID crime map offers users location data for each crime, details on incidents and the map enables users to personally analyze and visualize MPD data for Downtown. Each month, the BID’s Public Space Management team updates the map online with the latest MPD data, creating a valuable virtual tool for Downtown crime analysis year-round.
Using this month’s map, users can learn that 13 crimes in September were attributed to theft from auto, seven were assaults with a dangerous weapon, six were theft of motor vehicles, five were robberies, two were burglaries and one case was reported of sexual abuse in Downtown.
The high number of non-auto thefts (116) is linked to a national increase in snatch-and-grab cell phone and tablet crimes.
September’s report shows a recent decrease in crime incidents overall in Downtown when compared to the previous four months. Downtown experienced 188 crimes in May, 218 in June, 178 in July and 194 in August.
In 2010, the BID conducted an analysis of crime which showed the overall number of offenses in Downtown had declined dramatically since 1997, when the BID was created (barring the increase in “other theft” due to snatch-and-grab cell phone and tablet crimes.) The BID experienced an average of 7.4 crimes per day in 1997 and 3.8 per day in 2010. In 2013, only 188 person-on-person crimes occurred, half the level experienced in 1999 despite 30 to 40 percent more activity.
MPD continues to advise the public to take steps to avoid theft of personal electronics including never leaving your device in an unlocked vehicle, being cautious and aware of thieves after purchasing new electronics on-site especially on well-publicized days of new releases and potentially investing in tracking systems, safety systems or alarms for your devices.
For further information on the DowntownDC BID Crime Map and utilizing MPD data, please visit: http://www.downtowndc.org/programs/public-safety-partnerships/mpd-interactive-crime-map
About the DowntownDC BID
The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) is a private non-profit organization that provides capital improvements, resources and research to help diversify the economy and enhance the Downtown experience for all. This special district, where property owners have agreed to tax themselves to fund services, encompasses a 138-block area of approximately 520 buildings from Massachusetts Avenue on the north to Constitution Avenue on the south, and from Louisiana Avenue on the east to 16th Street on the west. As a catalyst, facilitator and thought leader, the DowntownDC BID promotes public/private partnerships to create a remarkable urban environment. For more information, visit www.DowntownDC.org or follow us on Twitter @downtowndcbid.