CRIME

REPORT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

If you witness or suspect criminal activity at 3003 Van Ness, immediately call 911.

Sometimes residents are uncertain whether an incident is important enough to call 911 — instead, they alert the front desk or the leasing office. This is a futile effort, as management has specifically said that it takes no responsibility and it also recommends calling 911. MPD has specifically told us that it doesn’t mind responding to 911 calls and that if you’re not sure whether or not to call, it is better to do so.

However, after an acute incident has passed, you should report suspected criminal activity to Vivmark Residential building manager Dan Burkes and cc: the tenants association. It is important to notify the company so it later cannot deny that it knew that crimes had occurred. A paper trail can help pressure Equity into improving security in the future, either because it fears bad publicity, or it fears legal liability.

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT POLICE - SECOND DISTRICT

The Metropolitan District Police (MPD) divides the city into seven districts; 3003 Van Ness is in the Second District, which roughly covers Northwest DC. The Second District station is at 3320 Idaho Avenue, NW, near the intersection of Idaho and Wisconsin Avenues. The phone number is (202) 715-7300.

The MPD has been very helpful to the tenants association and to residents of 3003 Van Ness. Officers have attended our meetings and provided advice. MPD officers are frequently at our building because, unfortunately, there are a disproportionate number of 911 calls and an elevated level of crime at 3003 Van Ness.

The key MPD personnel for our neigborhood are:

  1. Lieutenant Bobbette Williams — the officer most directly tied to our Police Service Area (PSA-203).

  2. Captain Charles Barnes-Tutt — covers PSA-203 and other areas

  3. Commander Christopher Dorsey — the top officer in the Second District, covering most of Northwest DC

TRACKING CRIME

The MPD Second District hosts a Google Group that is open to area residents. It also hosts or participates in occasional Zoom meetings that are open to residents.

MPD also has an extensive online arrest database known as Crime Cards. You can search by geographical area, type of crime, date, etc.

For example, see crimes in the past month for our neighborhood (PSA-203).

HOW YOU CAN HELP

In addition to recommending that Equity improve internal security and working closely with the tenants association, the MPD has offered a few simple recommendations for individual residents:

  • When you enter or exit the building, always close the door behind you. Non-residents, some of them up to no good, often follow residents through open doors.

  • Always lock your apartment with the deadbolt. Without the deadbolt, some of the doors can be opened using a simple tool or a credit card.

  • If you see something suspicious, call 911.

  • Put up posters to remind your neighbors of good safety practices: