Metropolitan police are warning residents of McLean Gardens in upper Northwest to watch their backs for groups of adolescents who attempt to rob lone pedestrians of their portable electronics.
Second District Police Cmdr. Andrew Solberg issued the caution Wednesday via a listserv posting. Three robberies have been reported since Monday on or near 39th Street NW east of American University, Solberg said, and all seem to be related by suspect, victim and location.
The first incident occurred Monday at 6:15 p.m., when a man jogging alone at 39th Street near Rodman Street was robbed by a group of four or five black youth ages 13-18, who knocked him to the ground and stole his iPod.
At 7 p.m. Tuesday, a man walking alone on Wisconsin Avenue near Fort Drive was approached by three black youth, ages 15-16. One produced a knife and robbed the man of his iPod.
Three hours later, a trio who fit the same description as the 7 p.m. robbery tried but failed to steal a Blackberry from a man walking alone in the 4200 block of 39th Street.
Police have no leads yet in any of the cases.
Solberg warned all residents in the area of 39thStreet and the Wisconsin Avenue corridor from Porter Street to Fort Drive or Yuma Street to “please be especially alert to your surroundings and especially be aware of groups of young men in this age group.”
“If possible, walk with a friend or neighbor, and we recommend that in any instance of a robbery attempt you surrender your possessions without resisting in any way,” he said. “No item you own is worth risking injury for.”
