A burglary suspect broke into an occupied home on 29th Street Northwest around 9:30 p.m. on October 14, then returned roughly 2 hours and 55 minutes later to break into an unoccupied home on 27th Street, according to police. The Metropolitan Police Department says the same person is responsible for both break-ins, which struck Northwest Washington within three hours of each other.
The first incident happened in the 5300 block of 29th Street, Northwest, where the suspect forced entry into a home with residents present and stole property before fleeing, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. That case was logged under CCN 26147577. As FOX 5 DC reported, police say the suspect was caught on camera targeting both Northwest D.C. homes.
Around 12:25 a.m. on October 15, the department says the same suspect struck again, entering an unoccupied residence in the 5300 block of 27th Street, Northwest, and making off with property. That second break-in was registered as CCN 26147499. The homes were on the 5300 blocks of 27th and 29th streets in Northwest Washington.
Police Release Surveillance Images, Dangle $10,000 Reward
MPD published surveillance images of the suspect this past Monday, asking anyone with information to call the department's tip line at 202-727-9099 or text 50411. The department is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction for a violent crime committed in the District, per the same release.
Hoodline has previously covered similar MPD appeals for public help identifying burglary suspects from surveillance footage, including a Florida Avenue break-in near Dupont this past spring. In a separate case, neighboring Montgomery County police sought two suspects after a break-in at a historic Bethesda meeting house earlier this month.
What the Suspect Could Face Under DC Law
The two incidents carry different legal exposure. Entering an occupied dwelling with criminal intent, as happened on 29th Street, constitutes first-degree burglary under D.C. Code § 22-801(a), a felony punishable by five to 30 years in prison, according to FindLaw. Entering the unoccupied 27th Street home with intent to steal falls under second-degree burglary, which carries a mandatory minimum of two years and up to 15 years, regardless of whether entry was forced.
Prosecutors still have to prove the suspect intended to commit a crime at the moment of entry to sustain a felony burglary charge, rather than the lesser misdemeanor of unlawful entry, which tops out at 180 days in jail, according to Price Benowitz LLP. That intent is typically shown through evidence like forced entry or burglary tools found at the scene.
Burglaries Climb Even as Other Crime Falls
The Chevy Chase break-ins land amid a broader citywide uptick. MPD statistics released Tuesday show reported burglaries across Washington, D.C. rose 10% year-to-date in 2026, climbing to 646 incidents compared with 589 over the same period last year, even as total property crime citywide dropped 15%. D.C. Open Data tracking through mid-October shows burglaries peaked at 100 reported incidents in August before falling to 67 in September and 47 through October 17.
Anyone with information on the Chevy Chase suspect is urged to contact MPD's tip line or text line referenced above. No arrest has been announced in either case as of Tuesday.
