Crime in Washington, D.C., is a crisis. Six months ago, the Washington Examiner looked at some of the problems plaguing the capital. In the months since, things feel worse than ever, but that might be starting to change. In this series, we are looking at how Washington wound up with its record on crime, how it affects its standing in the world, and what can be done to turn the problem around. In part two, the Washington Examiner looked at Washington’s most discussed type of crime and what officials and experts suggest can be done to protect car owners from becoming victims of carjacking.

Carjackings have become a focal point of the crime problem in Washington, D.C., with the number of incidents more than doubling from the previous year. 

Metropolitan Police Department data reveal there were 959 reported carjackings in 2023, rising for the sixth year straight and showing a stark increase from the 439 incidents recorded the previous year. MPD said there has been a drop in overall arrests year-to-date, but the year still began with a fatal incident.

“Year to date, the District has seen a 9% decrease in carjacking offenses, a 30% decrease in motor vehicle theft offenses, and a 23% decrease in theft from auto offenses,” an MPD spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. 

At the end of January, police shot and killed a man suspected of carrying out an armed carjacking spree in the district and Prince George’s County, Maryland, spanning 11 hours. The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Artell Cunningham, shot at several people, including police officers. 

Michael Gill, a married father of three who worked at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during former President Donald Trump’s administration, was shot when he was inside his vehicle parked at Mount Vernon Square after the suspect tried to carjack another person but failed. Gill, 56, later died at the hospital, police confirmed. 

Carjackings have been a long-standing area of concern for the MPD, which launched a task force in 2021 to address the uptick, as well as auto thefts and unauthorized use of vehicle offenses across the city. MPD also launched its Robbery Suppression Initiative in August, increasing the use of helicopters and enhanced communication with neighboring law enforcement agencies. 

“The Initiative deploys teams of officers in specific hot spots that we’ve identified by looking at recent crime trend data,” the MPD spokesperson said. “Since July 2023, the Robbery Suppression Initiative has led to 328 arrests, 275 gun recoveries, and 93 recoveries of 93 stolen cars.”

“Also in December, Mayor Bowser and MPD announced the launch of the MPD’s Real Time Crime Center, which is a new dedicated space that will be staffed 24/7 with local, regional, and federal law enforcement agencies to monitor and respond to criminal activities in real time,” the spokesperson added. 

Mayor Muriel Bowser and leaders of the Council of the District of Columbia have also been working on legislation to address the growing crime crisis in the city. Last week, the council passed the Secure D.C. Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024, which was introduced last year by Councilwoman Brooke Pinto, the chairwoman of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety. The legislation includes 12 bills crafted by Bowser and other city leaders to tackle crime. 

Secure D.C. gives judges more discretion to hold people awaiting trial for a violent offense, creates a new felony for “organized retail theft,” and expands the definition of “carjacking” to make cases easier to prosecute. 

“We are a city that is committed to creating opportunity and that believes in second chances, but we will not tolerate violence, and we will not tolerate criminal activity that disrupts our sense of safety and our ability to build thriving neighborhoods,” Bowser said.

Washington leaders faced mounting pressure to pass legislation addressing widespread crime problems, as fear filled neighborhoods amid a surge in homicides, carjackings, and robberies. In October, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) was carjacked by three armed attackers about a mile from the U.S. Capitol, bringing more light to the problem. The Texas Democrat was unharmed.

On top of local laws, federal agencies have taken note of the matter and have begun implementing measures. In January, the Justice Department announced a boost in resources to combat carjackings and violent crime. 

The department will roll out resources such as “a multi-component Gun Violence Analytic Cell (GVAC),” led by the FBI, collaborating with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. GVAC will leverage data analytics to sort through federal investigations to deter violent crime and carjackings.  

The National Crime Prevention Council, a nonprofit organization working to address the causes of crime and keep communities safe, provided several tips on how to avoid carjackings. 

“Carjackings are affecting too many Americans, especially people living in the D.C. metro area,” Paul DelPonte, NCPC’s executive director, told the Washington Examiner. “People can take action. There’s a lot you can do to stay safe.”  

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The NCPC said driving in a center lane to avoid being targeted and having space to drive off if needed are safety measures people in the district can take.

“If you are driving alone, make sure your phone is charged in case of an emergency,” DelPonte added. “If you’re at a gas station or stopped, make sure you lock your car doors and hold your keys with you at all times.”