The crime issue in Washington, D.C. is so bad that locals are frightened to walk anywhere, preferring to drive short distances as a result, and are hesitant to venture out after dark, thinking they would be severely attacked along the city’s streets.
In talks with the Washington Post, a few locals talked about the steps they are beginning to take to stay safe from the city’s increasing violent crime problem. Since this past year, the number of murders has gone up by almost 30%, and the number of robberies has gone up by nearly 70%.
Stephanie Heishman, 44, who lives in D.C., told the Post that what she has to do to stay safe is “so silly. On the other hand, I would prefer not to be randomly shot.”
Heishman said that she now drives instead of walking a short distance. In the Adams Morgan area of Washington, D.C., she said that she made the decision following a shooting outside the building where she lived.
In August, three men were also killed on her block.
After being brutally attacked in 2019 along with another couple by a bunch of youths at Dupont Circle, James, a 58-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., claimed he and his spouse moved to Maryland. James said that more recently, someone threw a bottle at his head while he was going to Whole Foods.
Ronald Moten, who lives in D.C. and is 53 years old, told the Post that he doesn’t go to the nearby filling station at night because he’s afraid of getting robbed by crooks in the Hillcrest community.
Nora Fanfalone, who is 28 years old, says she is now using the service door to enter her apartment so she doesn’t get attacked as she comes in or sees a shooting.
Since the start of this year, there have already been close to 4,000 serious crimes reported in D.C., which is almost 40% more than in 2022. Overall, there are almost 30% more crimes.
