Five quick robberies near Georgetown Halloween street celebrations
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Version 0 of 1. Georgetown, traditionally the site of one of Washington’s principal Halloween gatherings, appeared for a couple of hours on Saturday night to become a center of robberies as well. Four of the robberies involved physical force: at 10 p.m. in the 1200 block of 28th Street NW, at 10:30 p.m. in the 3300 block of M Street NW, and about 11 p.m. in the 3100 block of M Street. Another was reported in the 3000 block of M Street at 11:45 p.m. One robbery report indicated that a gun was shown. That holdup occurred around 11 p.m. in the 1100 block of 34th Street NW. The flurry wasn’t totally unexpected. Citizens were warned on a police e-mail bulletin board that the area, along with the rest of the city, “has the potential for a high volume of robberies on Halloween night.” Police said the threat of robbery existed even while officers would be “out in force.” Although police did not point this out, the night offered the opportunity to wear masks or other disguises without appearing conspicuous. Moreover, part of the Halloween ambiance is generally regarded as the relaxation of inhibitions and of general urban wariness. Revelers were advised to keep their cell phones and other valuables beneath their clothing or in their pockets. There was no immediate report of injury, and the overall atmosphere in Georgetown, a traditional center of Halloween merriment, seemed relatively orderly and serene, with a wide variety of costumes on display. |