A spate of bold daylight carjackings in the capital has led police to arrest four teenagers, authorities said. According to a press release from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), detectives from the First District apprehended the suspects after a series of thefts involving mopeds left Washington D.C. residents rattled.

The first incident, authorities described, happened on April 28 when two suspects confronted a moped rider at gunpoint near 11th Street and O Street, Southeast, snatching his vehicle and personal belongings. Though the stolen moped was later recovered, the suspects had briefly vanished, the police investigation ongoing as they subsequently stated. Following the encounter, two days of anxiety within the community were reported, as remaining carjackings saw daylight emboldened by acts of aggression.

On April 29, an armed carjacking ensued at 13th Street and H Street, Northeast where three assailants forcibly removed another victim from his moped. In a separate, nearby incident, occurring swiftly after at 9th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, Southeast, two other suspects intimidated yet another moped owner into surrendering his vehicle under the false pretense of possessing a firearm—a potentially devastating encounter cut short when the victim heralded a DC Housing Authority Officer nearby.

The string of bold thefts was curtailed by police officers who, with support from above by an MPD helicopter, brought the suspects into custody. Among them; a 15-year-old from Temple Hills and two 16-year-olds from different quadrants of the District were implicated in the carjackings occurring Monday by authorities, according to the MPD statement. They were joined by Jershaun Marshall, 18, of no fixed address, who was found by officers who canvassed the area and was later charged with related offenses.

The involvement of multiple law enforcement agencies was highlighted by the MPD, which extended special thanks to the DC Housing Authority Police Department for their assistance.