Carjackings appear to be rising again in Arlington and across the D.C. area.

An uptick between 2019 and 2020 spurred Arlington County Police Department to focus prevention efforts on robbery, burglary and destruction of property incidents. Increased enforcement in 2021 resulted in fewer carjackings, after ACPD made two significant carjacking arrests, per ACPD’s 2021 annual report.

“The combination of the collaboration and the education and proactive work that ACPD did reduce the carjackings and then reduced the stealing of cars in general,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, who participated in a regional effort to crack down on carjackings during that time. “With that reduction, less collaboration was needed, but we are working together to make sure that we’re doing the same coordination as before with other jurisdictions.”

But now the crime — in which a person steals a victim’s car by force, threat or intimidation — seems to be ticking up again, with five carjackings in January 2023 compared to zero carjackings in January 2022 and 14 throughout the 2022 calendar year, according to stats provided by ACPD.

Meanwhile, across the river in D.C., one Arlingtonian was carjacked near Union Station and another resident’s Rolls Royce was stolen near Logan Circle, according to police reports.

Dehghani-Tafti said the social science data shows the certainty of being caught is the strongest deterrent from people committing crimes, but deterrence can be harder with carjacking.

“These can be hard crimes to solve because people get away so fast and cars change hands so quickly, they take a lot of collaboration and coordination and proactive action,” she said.

Law enforcement and the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney say they’re devoting more resources to combat these crimes.

ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage says the department “continues to deploy increased police resources, to include both visible and non-visible assets, in Crystal City and the surrounding neighborhoods to address this crime trend.”

“The Arlington County Police Department remains a member of the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force which coordinates on offenses such as carjackings,” she said. “As part of our ongoing investigative efforts into these incidents, detectives are working collaboratively with our regional law enforcement partners to share information, identify trends, apprehend suspects and hold them accountable for their actions.”

Dehghani-Tafti, meanwhile, is meeting with a division of Virginia State Police on vehicle thefts, generally.

Two units in the VSP Fairfax Division are “partnering to take a more concentrated and analytical look at vehicle thefts within the Northern Virginia region,” state police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said. “This is not uncommon for state police to do, as we consistently look for ways to address any crime patterns that develop and identify ways to strategically address and resolve them.”

Fact patterns 

Of the five reported carjackings last month in Arlington, four were in the Crystal City and Pentagon City areas — where many such incidents were concentrated during the last spree — and three involved BMWs.

“In recent cases, carjacking suspects have generally approached victims as they were inside their idling parked vehicles, brandished a firearm and demanded the victim’s keys and property,” per an Arlington police press release, sent in response to the uptick. “In some cases, the suspects approach the victim by pulling alongside them in a vehicle, which is later determined to be stolen. Reported incidents in Arlington have generally involved multiple suspects.”

While some are threatened with guns, other victims are attacked when they exit their cars.

On Jan. 27, a Columbia Pike resident was exiting his car near Union Station in D.C. to let out an Uber customer when he was attacked and the attacker drove away in his car. The victim and another driver idling behind him chased the alleged carjacker for nearly a mile. Stuck behind a dump truck, the suspect reversed the stolen car and hit the pursuing car. The duo apprehended the suspect but ultimately let go, citing fear for their safety and a growing crowd, according to a Metropolitan Police Department incident report.

The car was later returned to the owner.

Arlington police issued the following safety tips for residents in response to the recent spate of carjackings.

• When inside your vehicle, keep your doors locked and windows up
• Exit your vehicle and continue to your destination promptly after parking
• Be aware of your surroundings when entering and exiting your vehicle
• Limit your use of devices that may distract you, such as cell phones and headphones
• Don’t leave items unattended or visible in your vehicle

One woman’s story

Some two-and-a-half years ago, then-Alexandria resident Lauren Brown was similarly attacked while waiting to turn left onto S. Glebe Road near the Harris Teeter in Potomac Yard. She told ARLnow her experience as a cautionary tale.

A group of 18-year-olds in a stolen car hit Brown. After pleading with her not to call the police — with whom she was already on the phone — they drove away. They returned, and one occupant hit her while the other got in her car and they drove away.

“It’s a really crazy thing what adrenaline does to your body,” she said. “I didn’t feel [the injury] until a few days later.”

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It has been an eventful couple of weeks for BMW drivers in the Crystal City and Pentagon City area.

Last night another BMW was taken during a carjacking, by suspects who themselves arrived in a BMW. This time it happened outside the 7-Eleven store at the corner of 23rd Street S. and S. Eads Street.

“At approximately 10:14 p.m. on January 30, police were dispatched to the report of a stolen vehicle,” Arlington County police said today in a crime report. “Upon arrival, it was determined the male victim was attempting to reverse out of a parking space when Suspect One exited the suspect vehicle, approached the victim, brandished a firearm, threatened him and demanded his vehicle.”

“The victim exited his vehicle and Suspect One and Suspect Two entered,” the crime report continued. “The suspects then fled the scene in the victim’s stolen vehicle at a high rate of speed with the suspect vehicle, occupied by Suspect Three and Suspect Four, following.”

YET ANOTHER CRYSTAL CITY CARJACKING— 7-Eleven at 23rd St South and South Eads St in Arlington. Around 10:15 p.m., 4 guys arrived in a black BMW with Md temp tags, two got out with a handgun and carjacked a white 2-door BMW with Va tags. #CrystalCityVA @ARLnowDOTcom pic.twitter.com/LuSx2kEqk9

— Alan Henney (@alanhenney) January 31, 2023

At 10:16 pm @ArlingtonVaPD dispatched armed carjacking of white 2-door BMW at S.Eads & 23rd 7-11. Likely accomplices in black BMW all headed on Rt 1N. At 10:14 pm my cameras caught these 2 cars speeding up Rt 1 into I-395. Can't say they're the same, but timing & car colors fit. pic.twitter.com/3csnIyG8Mq

— Dave Statter (@STATter911) January 31, 2023

This was the fifth reported carjacking in Arlington in three weeks, the fourth in the Crystal City and Pentagon City areas, and the third involving BMWs.

On Jan. 15 an Audi was carjacked at 23rd Street S. and S. Fern Street, in Crystal City. On Jan. 25 a white BMW was carjacked near 23rd Street S. and Crystal Drive, in Crystal City. On Jan. 26 a BMW was carjacked in front of the Pentagon City mall after another BMW, carjacked in D.C., crashed and was abandoned nearby on Route 1.

The five vehicles carjacked in Arlington this month compares to zero carjacked last January and 14 total throughout 2022, according to stats provided by ACPD.

(Updated at 12:30 p.m.) Police are investigating a crash and carjacking that occurred just blocks apart and around the same time, in Pentagon City.

Arlington County police responded to a crash around 9:20 p.m. Thursday night on Route 1 at 12th Street S. The driver fled the scene prior to police arriving and “the investigation determined the involved vehicle had previously been reported stolen in a carjacking in Washington D.C.,” ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage told ARLnow.

Then, a short time later, police were dispatched for reports of a person with a gun on the 1100 block of S. Hayes Street, in front of the Matchbox restaurant at the Pentagon City mall.

From an ACPD crime report published on Friday:

At approximately 9:33 p.m. on January 26, police were dispatched to the report of a person with a gun. Upon arrival, it was determined at approximately 9:20 p.m., the male victim was inside his parked vehicle when Suspect One opened his door, brandished a firearm and demanded the vehicle. The victim exited and Suspect One, along with two additional suspects, entered and fled the scene in the vehicle. The stolen vehicle was later recovered in Washington D.C.

Both vehicles involved were said to be BMWs, according to scanner traffic. No injuries were reported.

This is the third carjacking in the Pentagon City and Crystal City area in the past two weeks. A man parked outside of a restaurant on Crystal Drive was carjacked by armed suspects Wednesday night.

A man was carjacked by armed suspects in Crystal City last night.

The crime happened around 8 p.m. Wednesday along the 2200 block of Crystal Drive, in front of a row of restaurants. It’s the third reported carjacking in Arlington in two weeks and the second in Crystal City, specifically.

“The male victim was inside his parked vehicle when the suspect vehicle, with three unknown male suspects inside, pulled alongside him,” Arlington County police said today in a crime report. “Suspect One allegedly displayed a firearm from within the suspect vehicle as Suspect Two approached the victim and demanded his vehicle. The victim exited his vehicle and Suspect Two entered and fled the scene in the stolen vehicle with the suspect vehicle following.”

“Responding officers canvassed the area yielding negative results,” the crime report continues. “No injuries were reported. During the course of the investigation, the stolen vehicle was recovered in Prince George’s County, MD.”

The three suspects remain at large. The stolen vehicle was a 2017 BMW, according to public safety watcher Alan Henney.

ARMED CARJACKING IN #CrystalCityVa — Crystal Dr at 23rd St South in front of the restaurant. Male with a gun carjacked victim of a white 2017 BMW X6 with Va tags. @ARLnowDOTcom pic.twitter.com/fE0RuVPxUx

— Alan Henney (@alanhenney) January 26, 2023

Two people were carjacked in Crystal City on Sunday night, the second carjacking reported in Arlington last week.

It happened around 10 p.m. along the neighborhood’s 23rd Street S. restaurant row. At least one of the carjackers was armed, police said.

“A patrol officer was flagged down by the two victims who reported a carjacking,” the Arlington County Police Department said in a crime report today. “The investigation determined the victims were at their parked vehicle when the suspect vehicle approached and the three suspects exited. One suspect brandished a firearm as they approached the victims and demanded their vehicle. The suspects then fled the area in the victim’s stolen vehicle, which is described as a 2019 white Audi A5 with VA license plate UEF9067, with the suspect vehicle following.”

No injuries were reported, ACPD said. The suspects remain at large.

CRYSTAL CITY CARJACKING— 23rd St South at South Fern St in Arlington. Four guys with a gun took a white Audi A5 with Va tags. Reported around 10:15 p.m. @ARLnowDOTcom @CrystalCityVa pic.twitter.com/plUx2FoKGs

— Alan Henney (@alanhenney) January 16, 2023

The other reported carjacking last week happened on Thursday, near Columbia Pike, when a 54-year-old Arlington man allegedly carjacked a woman he knows.

A man went on a vandalism spree along Columbia Pike last night, police say.

The incident happened around 10:45 p.m. amid the apartment buildings on Columbia Pike between George Mason Drive and Glebe Road.

“The victims heard a loud noise and observed a window to their residence had been broken and subsequently determined a window to their vehicle had also been shattered,” the Arlington County Police Department said in a crime report. “During the course of the investigation, it was determined the mirror of a vehicle parked in the 3700 block of 12th Street S. had been removed and thrown through a residential window in the 3800 block of Columbia Pike.”

“Additionally, vandalism was reported inside the common area to the residential building,” the crime report noted. The suspect, said to be around 20 years old, remains at large.

Also in today’s crime report, a 54-year-old Arlington man allegedly carjacked a woman he knows following a dispute.

The incident happened yesterday (Thursday) morning near Arlington’s western end of Columbia Pike.

From ACPD:

CARJACKING, 2023-01120081, 1000 block of S. Frederick Street. At approximately 10:25 a.m. on January 12, police were dispatched to the report of an assault. Upon arrival, it was determined the victim and suspect, who are known to each other, became involved in a verbal dispute, during which the suspect allegedly assaulted the victim before fleeing the scene in her vehicle. The victim sustained minor injuries and did not require the treatment of medics. Officers obtained a warrant for the suspect, made telephone contact with him and coordinated him turning himself in to police. [The suspect], 54, of Arlington, Va., was arrested and charged with Carjacking. He was released on his own recognizance.

(Updated on 11/30/22) The carjacking and pursuit we reported yesterday was far from the only car theft in Arlington over the long Thanksgiving holiday.

It was a busy few days for police, who handled a half dozen other vehicle thefts, as well as a pair of attempted carjackings in the Colonial Village area. One series of thefts claimed five vehicles in parts of residential North Arlington between Thanksgiving afternoon and the morning of Black Friday.

More from the latest ACPD crime report:

GRAND LARCENY AUTO, 2022-11230126/2022-11230160, 2800 block of Washington Boulevard/N. Jackson Street at Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 2:55 p.m. on November 23, police were dispatched to the report of an attempted larceny from auto. Upon arrival, it was determined the victim witnessed the unknown male suspect rummaging through his vehicle. When the victim approached, the suspect began to flee the scene on foot. The victim followed the suspect during which the suspect brandished a knife and fled the area. At approximately 3:20 p.m., police were dispatched to an additional call in the 2800 block of Washington Boulevard for a suspect matching the description of the previous incident who had stolen a running, unoccupied vehicle. The vehicle was later located unoccupied in the 2200 block of 19th Court N. The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 30 years old, 5’6-5’7, with long curly hair, wearing a black jacket, white t-shirt, dark colored pants and a dark colored baseball hat. The investigation is ongoing.

GRAND LARCENY AUTO/LARCENY FROM AUTO (Series), 2022-11250027/2022-11250029/2022-11250035/2022-11250043/2022-11260096, 5300 block of 27th Street N., 5000 block of 36th Street N., 2300 block of N. Nottingham Street, 6000 block of 27th Street N., 6000 block of 28th Street N. At approximately 7:54 a.m. on November 25, police were dispatched to the late report of a grand larceny auto. During the course of the investigation, it was determined between approximately 2:30 p.m. on November 24 and 7:45 a.m. on November 25, five vehicles were reported stolen from the area. The stolen vehicles are described as a 2017 Toyota Rav4, Gray, MA License Plate: 50DC38, 2020 Kia Telluride, Gray, VA License Plate: VXY4222, 2017 Honda Odyssey, Black, VA License Plate: 1265SC, 2021 Range Rover Sport, Blue, VA License Plate: UGF2051. Additionally, one vehicle in the area was rummaged through and cash and sunglasses were stolen. There is no suspect description. The investigation is ongoing.

ATTEMPTED CARJACKING, 2022-11260179, 1700 block of N. Uhle Street. At approximately 6:37 p.m. on November 26, police were dispatched to the report of an attempted carjacking. Upon arrival, it was determined Victim One was inside her parked vehicle when the suspect approached, opened the door and ordered her to exit. Victim One exited the vehicle and the suspect entered but Victim One still had the keys. The suspect then fled the scene and approached Victim Two who had just parked in the 2100 block of Key Boulevard. The suspect grabbed the victim’s arm and demanded her keys. When she refused, he fled the scene on foot. No injuries were reported and no items were reported stolen. The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 5’6, 30 years old, skinny build, wearing a knit cap, black jacket and black/gray jeans. The investigation is ongoing.

Also in the crime report were some gun crimes, including an apparent road rage gun brandishing on I-395 and an armed robbery north of Columbia Pike.

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(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) The brief pursuit of a carjacking suspect in Arlington ended the way many police pursuits do: on a bridge over the Potomac.

The driver of an Audi station wagon was carjacked just before 11 a.m. Sunday near the Staples store in Virginia Square, according to scanner traffic. Later, the stolen vehicle was spotted by an Arlington officer on eastbound Washington Blvd near Columbia Pike, but was able to speed down I-395 and cross the 14th Street Bridge into D.C., after which the chase was called off.

The chase was caught on video and the Audi was reportedly found abandoned near L’Enfant Plaza a short time later, as seen in tweets from public safety watchers Dave Statter and Alan Henney.

(1) This Audi, reported to have been carjacked in Rosslyn Sunday morning, was one of three vehicles that escaped from @ArlingtonVaPD & @VSPPIO across the Potomac into DC in less than 10 hours. (more) @ARLnowDOTcom @RealTimeNews10 pic.twitter.com/xlko1nZD0Z

— Dave Statter (@STATter911) November 28, 2022

The Audi has been recovered after it was abandoned near L'Enfant Metro. @ARLnowDOTcom https://t.co/a3gDm1DXyK

— Alan Henney (@alanhenney) November 27, 2022

“Members of the MPD observed the listed vehicle parked at 970 D Street SW,” said a D.C. police report obtained by Henney. “The listed vehicle was unoccupied and left running with the driver side window half opened…. [A database] check revealed the car was reported stolen out of Arlington. Officers contacted Arlington police who took custody of the vehicle.”

Arlington County police did not respond to ARLnow’s request for additional information by publication time, but released the following as part of its daily crime report late Monday afternoon.

CARJACKING, 2022-11270066, N. Oakland Street at Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 10:53 a.m. on November 27, police were dispatched to the report of a carjacking just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined the male victim was sitting in his parked vehicle when the suspect approached, opened the driver’s side door, grabbed the victim’s arm and told him to get out of the vehicle. The victim exited the vehicle and the suspect entered and drove away. No injuries were reported. A lookout was broadcast and a responding officer observed the vehicle in the area of Arlington Boulevard and Washington Boulevard. The officer activated their emergency equipment and attempted a traffic stop. The suspect continued to flee and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. The pursuit was terminated after the suspect entered Washington D.C. on I-395. The vehicle was later recovered in Washington D.C. by the Metropolitan Police Department.

“The investigation is ongoing,” ACPD said.

A pizza delivery driver was carjacked in the Arlington Mill neighborhood last night.

The incident happened Wednesday night on S. Dickerson Street, a couple of blocks north of the Arlington Mill Community Center and Columbia Pike.

A pair of suspects, at least one of whom was armed with a gun, threatened the delivery driver and stole his 2005 Toyota Prius, according to an Arlington County Police Department crime report. The driver was not hurt.

More from ACPD:

CARJACKING (Late), 2022-10190259, 800 block of S. Dickerson Street. At approximately 11:20 p.m. on October 19, police were dispatched to the late report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, it was determined the victim was delivering pizza when he was approached by two unknown male suspects. The suspects allegedly threatened the victim with a firearm and demanded his personal belongings and the keys to his vehicle. The suspects then stole the victim’s belongings and fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle. No injuries were reported. Suspect One is described as a Black male, approximately 5’10”, wearing a ski mask and dark clothing. Suspect Two is described as a Black male with a husky build, approximately 5’6″, wearing a ski mask. The vehicle is described as a 2005 White Toyota Prius with Virginia tags TZE7770. The investigation is ongoing.

The last reported carjacking in Arlington happened in July in the Crystal City area, though a few attempted carjackings have been reported since then.

The family of a missing man thinks he may be the one who allegedly tried to carjack two drivers along I-395.

The Byrne family is going public with its concern for Sean, 27, who was last seen Sunday night leaving Reagan National Airport, where he was set to fly home to the Chicago area. They believe he had a psychiatric episode that led him to run off, but they don’t know where he is headed.

Meghan Byrne, the man’s sister, said Sean was in town visiting her for her birthday. She says he is in crisis and is urging anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact local authorities.

“I’m hoping to get as many people and resources as possible to help look for and locate my brother,” Byrne told ARLnow. “We just want to make sure that he’s okay.”

“We want to get the word out so that if anyone sees him or might have information that they’ve they’ve seen him in recent days that they can contact local authorities,” she continued.

Sean is described as a 27-year-old white male who’s 6’2″ with a “very athletic” build, a short brown buzzcut, and a bit of facial hair. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, gray athletic shorts, black tennis shoes, and black socks, and may also have a black backpack and a white face mask.

Meghan saw a video of one of the alleged carjacking attempts along I-395 early Monday morning, posted by Pentagon City resident and public safety watchdog Dave Statter, and believes it shows Sean.

(2) Here's a view from a different camera. This occurred at 12:18 a.m. @ArlingtonVaPD say the carjacker couldn't drive the first car he took & tried to get another one when he was hit. The driver called police after he left the scene & got away from the man his car struck. (more) pic.twitter.com/YIXzABrA0N

— Dave Statter (@STATter911) September 19, 2022

“We are convinced that that was my brother,” said Meghan. “The video that Dave Statter posted matches my brother’s general description and matches his behavior.”

Arlington County police said Monday morning that a younger white male suspect with a buzzcut tried to carjack two people around the Boundary Channel Drive interchange along I-395. One male victim struck the suspect with his car and drove off, while a female victim got out and gave up her car — only for the suspect to be foiled by the vehicle’s stick shift.

Statter’s video shows the apparent suspect being struck by the one victim’s car, before getting up and running across the highway.

“The suspect was last seen running across I-395 towards the exit for the George Washington Memorial Parkway,” Arlington County police said in a crime report Monday. “A perimeter was established and a lookout was broadcast for the suspect. Police helicopters assisted with a search of the area which yielded negative results.”

Meghan said a missing person report was filed with airport police and the family is also in contact with Arlington County police.

An ACPD spokeswoman today released a brief statement in response to an inquiry from ARLnow, not directly addressing whether police believe the missing man is the person seen on video.

From ACPD:

Mr. Byrne was reported missing to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department and they are the primary agency investigating the missing person’s report.

The investigation into the attempted carjackings on September 19 are ongoing and no arrests have been made at this time. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4180 or [email protected]. Information may also be reported anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Hat tip to Dave Statter

(Updated at 12:50 p.m.) A carjacker was reportedly foiled by a manual transmission early this morning.

The attempted carjacking happened around 12:20 a.m. at the Boundary Channel Drive and I-395 interchange, between Long Bridge Park and the Pentagon. Arlington police radio traffic suggests that the would-be carjacker might have been flummoxed by the stick shift of the car he was trying to take, though that has not yet been confirmed by police.

Arlington police were assisted by Virginia State Police, Pentagon police, U.S. Park Police and the Fairfax County Police Department helicopter in searching for the suspect, who fled the scene on foot.

No injuries were reported.

Additional information on the carjacking was released by police this afternoon, seemingly confirming the stick shift report.

The ACPD crime report, below, also notes that the suspect allegedly tried to carjack a second victim, who then struck the suspect with his vehicle and drove off before calling police. Despite an extensive search, the suspect was not located and no arrests were made.

More from ACPD:

ATTEMPTED CARJACKING, 2022-09190006, Boundary Channel Drive at I-395. At approximately 12:18 a.m. on September 19, police were dispatched to the report of an attempted carjacking. Upon arrival, it was determined the female victim was driving on the ramp for northbound I-395 from Boundary Channel Drive when the unknown male suspect approached on foot from the median. The male suspect allegedly began banging on the victim’s windshield and demanded she exit her vehicle while holding an unknown object. The victim exited her vehicle and ran down the ramp. The suspect then entered the victim’s vehicle but was unable to operate it. While officers were on scene, an additional victim contacted the Emergency Communications Center to report an attempted carjacking. The male victim stated he had been travelling on the ramp for northbound I-395 from Boundary Channel Drive when a suspect matching the description given by the first victim jumped in front of his vehicle, banged on the hood and demanded he exit the vehicle. The victim accelerated his vehicle, making contact with the suspect and left the area before contacting police. The suspect was last seen running across I-395 towards the exit for the George Washington Memorial Parkway. A perimeter was established and a lookout was broadcast for the suspect. Police helicopters assisted with a search of the area which yielded negative results. The victims were not injured. The suspect is described as a White male with a slim build, approximately 30 years old, 6’0″, with dark buzzcut hair, wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and dark pants. The investigation is ongoing.

Here's some of the #police response to the attempted armed carjacking at Long Bridge Drive & I-395 at 12:20 a.m. I'll share some other more interesting video from this #crime later today. @ARLnowDOTcom @RealTimeNews10 @HCBright10 @matthewyoung31 @RVANOVA01 @HelicoptersofDC https://t.co/JjaCkbgNaO pic.twitter.com/f1wCoHfQxX

— Dave Statter (@STATter911) September 19, 2022

(3) One man who ran across I-395 to help came back to his car followed by a man in shorts. That man then goes towards an SUV that stopped in the express lanes after the driver apparently saw the commotion. That driver left & the man in shorts is seen jogging toward D.C. (more) pic.twitter.com/kNUMieq1Rb

— Dave Statter (@STATter911) September 19, 2022