Surveillance cameras may have caught the break detectives need in a pair of Southeast D.C. thefts, and police are hoping somebody recognizes the man in a bright red jacket who appears on the footage.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the same suspect is wanted in two early May thefts that happened a week apart, on May 7 and May 14, in the 2000 block of 18th Street SE and the 1600 block of W Street SE. In one incident, building materials were taken from a patio, and in the other, property was taken from a yard. The surveillance clip shows a man crouched between a silver van and nearby trash cans, and authorities say they want to talk to him about both cases.
The local station WJLA published still images pulled from that video that show the man tucked between the van and two trash cans. The outlet notes that he is wearing a red jacket, a beige hat and black pants, details detectives hope might jog the memory of a neighbor, delivery driver or worker who regularly passes through those blocks.
How to help investigators
Investigators are clear on one point: if you recognize the person in the video, do not confront him. Instead, contact police at (202) 727-9099 or text tips to 50411. The department is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. Residents who have doorbell or security camera footage from the relevant dates are urged to save the original files and jot down precise timestamps before sharing anything with detectives.
Surveillance clips like this have become a recurring feature in recent Southeast investigations, and neighborhood coverage has repeatedly shown how quickly a single tip can move a case forward. For earlier context on that pattern, see Southeast DC Police Seek Suspect, which highlighted MPD’s reliance on public tips and camera footage to help close cases.
