Carjacking incidents have more than doubled in the District in the past year, with 912 reported offenses so far in 2023, according to D.C. Police data. And several have happened throughout the region this week.
An employee of the FBI was carjacked at gunpoint in Northeast D.C. on Wednesday. The employee's car was found less than 30 minutes later in Southeast D.C. The FBI's Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department's Carjacking Task Force are still looking for the suspects, and released images of the people wanted for the crime on Thursday.
Four men attempted an armed carjacking earlier this week in Bethesda, but the suspects were unable to drive the stolen car because it was a manual transmission. The suspects fled the scene in a maroon Nissan Rogue. Officers are still looking for the suspects.
A woman's dog was stolen during a carjacking on Monday at a gas station in Capitol Heights, Maryland. The dog and its owner were reunited a couple of days later.
The Metropolitan Police Department recently re-released public safety tips to help people avoid becoming targets. Here are some recommendations from the police department:
- Lock your doors immediately upon entering your car, even before you put the keys in the ignition. Keep the doors locked at all times while in your vehicle.
- Remove your keys, lock all your doors, and close your windows: even if parking for just a minute.
- Never leave your engine running and vehicle unattended while you run into your home, a convenience store, while pumping gas or anywhere else.
- If you come across a disabled vehicle on a road, or see someone trying to flag you down, the safest way you can help is by calling 911.
- Park in well-lit areas, when possible, near sidewalks or walkways. Avoid parking near dumpsters, large vans or trucks, or anything else that limits your visibility.
- Always be aware of your surroundings when idle at traffic lights and other locations observing people and vehicle arounds you.
If someone tries to carjack you:
- Don’t resist or argue, especially if there is a weapon involved.
- Try to remember what the robber or carjacker looks like.
- Sometimes carjackers have a “follow vehicle,” driven by an accomplice. As the carjacker drives off with your vehicle, try to notice if there is another vehicle following closely behind. If so, try to remember as much as you can about that vehicle.
- Get away from the area as quickly as possible.
- Report the crime to the police.
WUSA9 reporter Leslie Moreno will be speaking with a victim of a carjacking tonight at 11 p.m. — tune in tonight to learn more about the issue, and the victim's own tips for staying safe.