Washington, D.C.'s crime spiral took a new turn this week when a flyer calling on shoplifters to “unite” and loot local grocery stores was found outside a vacant building in Columbia Heights, reports show. .
“Shoplifters unite! Take everything that isn't nailed down. Break the windows,” the fliers say, telling people to vandalize Safeway stores across the city, according to Fox 5 DC. It is said that he was calling.
The flyer was found in the window of a vacant store on Irving Street NW, the paper said. The outlet did not publish the flyer's full message because it is unclear who posted the flyer and whether their intent to loot Safeway was legitimate.
“I think this is crap,” one Safeway shopper told FOX 5 about the flyer. “That's what I think. I see people coming into the Safeway here and taking things and stealing things. I don't say anything, but the security guards are right there. I know. He sees it,' and he doesn't do anything. ”
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A flyer calling for shoplifters to “stand together” has been found in Washington, D.C. (FOX5DC)
Retail thefts have exploded in cities across the country in recent years, particularly in California, where dozens of stores have closed due to crime and public safety concerns due to widespread snatching and shoplifting. Washington, D.C., was the second-highest city, according to a study published by Forbes Advisor in November. retail theft index It cost residents an average of $336 per person, out of all the cities examined in the study.
Retail theft suspects used a fire extinguisher at a Chanel store in Washington, D.C., police said. (Metropolitan Police Department)
Last month, five suspects were seen snatching a Chanel store and making off with $250,000 worth of merchandise, with one suspect using a fire extinguisher ostensibly to create a distraction and chaos.
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A Washington, D.C., shoplifter was caught on video stealing laundry detergent in broad daylight. (Fox News)
Shoppers were also seen stealing shopping carts containing laundry detergent from a grocery store less than a mile from the Capitol. In November, CVS in Washington, D.C., removed toilet paper from its shelves and replaced the product with framed photos. Fox News previously reported that shoppers must ask a CVS employee to retrieve their items to prevent theft.
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Overall, Washington, D.C., experienced a high level of violence and crime in 2023, with police data showing a 39% increase in violent crime. The city recorded 274 murders in 2023, an increase of 36% compared to 2022 and the highest number in 26 years.
Carjackings will almost double in 2023 compared to 2022, with more and more young people in the city being accused of carrying out violent carjackings and even murders. It's getting worse.
A CVS store in Washington, D.C., has no toilet paper on the shelves, and customers now have to ask employees to retrieve the product from the back room of the store. (Sophie Rychalski/Fox News)
A September report from the Washington Free Beacon found that 63% of carjacking arrests involved young people. During his first nine months of 2023, Washington DC police arrest 458 juveniles charges of robbery, murder or assault with a dangerous weapon, according to November data from the mayor's office.
Crime in the city also affects political leaders and their families. For example, a U.S. Secret Service agent assigned to protect President Biden's granddaughter Naomi opened fire in November in response to an attempted carjacking in Georgetown.Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar was carjacked In October, she was attacked by three armed assailants near the U.S. Capitol, and in February, Democratic Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig was arrested after allegedly getting high on drugs in the elevator of her Washington, D.C., apartment. Police said he was attacked by an “erratic” man. at that time.
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser is pictured here during an interview in Washington, DC, on Friday, October 13, 2023. This summer, Bowser and City Council President Phil Mendelsohn said in a letter sent to legislative leaders they said they were united in opposing a review of the federal government's actions that police practices It said it was “contrary to the basic principles of democracy: self-determination and local control.'' (Ting Sheng/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Metropolitan Police Department told FOX 5 they are working to arrest suspects who commit crimes in the city, in response to a question about a flyer calling for shoplifters to “stand together.”
“MPD does not tolerate illegal activity of any kind and will continue to work to ensure those who commit crimes in the District of Columbia are apprehended. We urge individuals to remain vigilant and Please help us keep our communities safe. If you see something, say something,” the department said.
Neither Safeway's parent company, Albertsons Companies, nor Mayor Muriel Bowser's office immediately responded to Fox News Digital's requests for comment about the flyer.
