Although crime in Georgetown and Burleith has significantly decreased over the past few years, thefts from automobiles, the area’s biggest crime, have increased. According to Lt. Brian Bray of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Second District, auto thefts were up eight percent in November from the previous year. 18 cars were broken into in November and 17 in December, he said.
Bray said that although community awareness of safety issues has increased, the carelessness of residents, students and visitors is the main cause of auto theft. Visitors account for half the victims of auto theft, and students comprise another third, Bray said. The high turnover of residency in the neighborhoods is a big factor in the number of thefts, as students and short-term residents are often unaware of the crime and precautions necessary in the District.
Bray emphasized that Georgetown and Burleith are relatively safe areas and that burglaries are down 40 percent from last year and thefts from automobiles are down 50 percent from five years ago.
“It’s a credit to the community and the University,” Bray said. “Education is all you do for prevention.”
