Some shopping areas in Washington, D.C., have an increased security presence after a series of robberies broke out Monday evening.
Metropolitan Police Department officials said seven stores spanning multiple neighborhoods are recovering from the robberies, some having thousands of dollars worth of merchandise stolen. The motive for the attack and any correlation between then remains unknown.
“Overnight, groups of individuals decided to destroy property and burglarize businesses throughout our city,” MPD officials said in a statement Tuesday.
The police department is investigating seven burglary offenses and six destruction of property offenses. Five of the seven affected businesses have police reports.
Two people were arrested: Alton Pernell Jr., 27, and Husan Thurston, 32, for burglary offenses near the CityCenter Gucci store around 11 p.m. Monday. Police recovered a black ski mask and glass breaker at the scene of the crime.
Of the other reported thefts, robbers allegedly stole $20,000 worth of merchandise from the Commonwealth boutique on 14th Street NW, $10,900 worth of designer bags and shoes from Lifted Life Kicks on 14th Street NW, and $1,000 in cash and $5,000 worth of stolen bottles from a liquor store near the Naval Observatory on Wisconsin Avenue NW.
The businesses with pending police reports are located in the 1200 block of H Street NE and the 1400 block of Wisconsin Ave NW. MPD is looking for community assistance in locating two vehicles and suspects involved in the burglary on the 1400 block of Wisconsin Ave NW.
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MPD confirmed to the Washington Examiner that “any connections between these offenses is under investigation.” The MPD did not comment on a known motive for the string of robberies.
Earlier in the day, the police department released body camera footage of an officer fatally shooting a civilian earlier this month. Two officers fired more than 10 shots at Justin Robinson, who was in his car in Southeast. Officials said they will look into how officers are trained to handle unresponsive people as a result of this fatal shooting.