via google maps
“Dear PoPville,
5 incidents involving a group of kids (between the ages of 7 to probably 13) terrorizing the homes on Kirby St NW and Morgan St NW. They run up to the homes kicking or throwing rocks/bricks and then run away and then come by and do it all over again. It’s escalated now to them throwing rocks at anyone who confronts them.
It always happens starting at 7 p.m. and continues for 30 minutes to an hour. Cops were called to the first 2 incidents and no response from them (not even a follow-up). The last incident was last night and finally police came but didn’t do much as park their car and sit there with their lights on while the kids ran around.
Each incident has escalated more dangerously. The other night they broke into a car and would kick it until the alarm went off.
3/26 incident my husband opened the door and told them to knock it off. They came back a minute later and threw a massive brick at our door.
These kids come to the park regularly and play for a bit and then begin their terror. All neighbors can identify the kids and we all have very clear video footage.
We’ve tried calmly communicating with them, warned them about calling the police, and then flat out ignored them to no avail.
I’m just at a loss about what to do. We’ve filed police reports, reached out to our ANC rep (who unfortunately is unresponsive), and talked with the DC Park Rangers.
At first I just chalked it up to them being bored and playing ding dong ditch (albeit a more aggressive form). But now we’re dealing with a damaged door and door frame that with one or 2 more kicks it’ll definitely give and bust open. Also, we have a 1 year old who I now can’t have in the living room in the evening because of the risk of the door busting open or a rock breaking the glass. We had one incident where he was playing and the loud kicking to our door scared him and set him off.”