A church in the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest D.C. was broken into twice within 24 hours, with thieves making off with musical instruments, microphones and cameras during the second hit. The Metropolitan Police Department is now offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment, and investigators are asking the public to help identify people caught on surveillance footage.
The first burglary happened about 10:15 p.m. on September 30, when people forced their way into the church through a rear door, according to WJLA. The church sits in the 1700 block of 11th Street NW, near R Street, though police have not identified it by name.
One of the people involved in that initial break-in came back the next evening, around 6:40 p.m. on October 1, this time bringing two others along. The station's report says the trio took musical instruments, microphones and cameras from the building during that second visit. Police have not released a value for the stolen property.
Surveillance Footage Central to the Investigation
Investigators say the people they are looking for were recorded by surveillance cameras, and identifying those individuals is now central to the case. Per the same account, no church name has been released, and no value has been placed on what was taken during either incident.
In a release tied to the case, the Metropolitan Police Department said anyone who can identify the persons of interest or who has knowledge of the incident should take no action but instead call police at (202) 727-9099 or text a tip to the department's TEXT TIP LINE at 50411, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. The case has been assigned number 26141186.
Not the Only Recent Break-In at a DC House of Worship
The Shaw burglaries echo another recent case at a different Northwest D.C. house of worship. In August, two items were taken from the Washington National Cathedral after two people broke in late one Thursday night and again earlier that same month, as reported by WJLA. That case does not appear to be connected to the Shaw burglaries, but it points to a pattern of repeat break-ins targeting D.C. churches this year.
For now, the Metropolitan Police Department's $1,000 reward stands as the main incentive for anyone with information to come forward. Investigators have not said whether anyone has been arrested or charged in connection with either the September 30 or October 1 incidents.
