Carjackings in D.C. nearly doubled in 2023
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D.C. carjackings rose for the sixth straight year in 2023 to 959 reported incidents.
Why it matters: The jarring and once-rare crime has nearly doubled over the last year, terrifying victims and leading to many arrests of juvenile suspects.
Driving the news: Federal prosecutors charged 10 teenagers in December in a crackdown on alleged armed carjacking rings in D.C. and Maryland.
- Five defendants were juveniles at the time of the crimes, prosecutors said.
What they're saying: "The overwhelming majority arrested for carjacking are juveniles and many of the adults are themselves teenagers," said U.S. Attorney for D.C. Matthew Graves.
- "To the teenagers fueling these crimes, know that there is no such thing as a 'free ride.' Masks will not protect you. We will track you down and aggressively pursue the charges that fit the crime."
In early December, a 17-year-old was arrested after an off-duty FBI agent was carjacked while using his bureau-issued vehicle.
- A police affidavit said a young man pointed a handgun at the agent who found herself on the ground following a tussle for the vehicle's keys, the Washington Post reported. It occurred midafternoon near Lincoln Park in Northeast.
The big picture: Violent crime increased 39% in 2023 in the nation's capital.
- Mayor Muriel Bowser has a pending proposal to target open-air drug markets and retail theft that has led to bare shelves at some convenience stores.
What we're watching: D.C. plans a 24/7 "real-time crime center" to monitor surveillance cameras and respond to crime reports more quickly.