Dear PoPville – Car Break In and Crime in Woodley Park

Photo by PoPville flickr user bajidc

Dear PoPville,

I read the letter towards the beginning of December regarding a rash of car break-ins in Mt. Pleasant, and wanted to let you know about a similar incident that happened outside my apartment in Woodley Park. My boyfriend parked his car overnight on Woodley Place (around the corner from Calvert and Connecticut). Sometime between 9pm and 10:30am, someone smashed his back window and stole his work laptop. They also removed his gym bag (we found the contents strewn across the alley nearby) but didn’t take anything from it. There was also a bunch of sports equipment in the trunk, but they didn’t touch any of it.

I have always considered our neighborhood one of the safest in DC, and was pretty shocked that this happened. On a related note, about a month ago, we got an e-mail from our building manager saying that our door would now be locked 24 hours a day and require your key fob to access at all times (there is also a 24-hour door person, but the entrance would typically be left unlocked during the day and only require the key fob at night). I’ve asked our manager if there was any particular impetus for the change, and he gave me a vague answer about the neighborhood “changing,” and told me not to prop our doors open when we go to the laundry or trash rooms in the building. I was curious if any readers know of a specific incident that may have triggered this extra security, or if there has been a reported increase in crime in the Woodley area.

Ed. Note: A good reminder and not but blaming the victim but never, ever, leave a lap top or any electronics in your car overnight. Also never leave any bags visible in your car even if they have nothing of value.

As for general crime in Woodley Park – the day [Jan. 2] I looked at this email (and it could be a coincidence) I saw the following tweets from DCPoliceDept:

“Robbery Fear_1944 hrs_3100 Block of Catherdral Ave, NW_Lookout is for 2 B/M’s, 5’7-5’8′”

and

“Robbery Force and Violence_1930 hrs_3000Block of 32nd St, NW_2 males of unknown race”

Like I said that could’ve just been odd timing. Personally, I still feel extremely safe whenever I am in Woodley Park (which is often.) In fact not once (knock wood, knock wood) have I ever experienced an uncomfortable incident in Woodley Park. It is very rare that I hear about crime in Woodley Park aside from car break ins.