Stolen merchandise searches result in D.C. robbery arrests

Carryout restaurants, dollar stores and neighborhood markets were among the 13 businesses raided as part of the Metropolitan Police Department’s efforts to crack down on the sale of stolen merchandise, police said Tuesday.

Over a three-week investigation, police have searched 12 businesses across the District and one cellphone store in Arlington, recovering stolen items that were for resale. As a result of the searches, 16 people were arrested and the majority were charged with trafficking in stolen property, a felony charge, police said.

Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier said the raids and arrests are part of an ongoing effort to curtail robberies and thefts in the District. Thus far this year, police officials said officers have made 300 arrests for robbery and 300 arrests for theft, theft from auto, and receiving stolen property.

“These numbers definitely show that we are working hard and holding people accountable for their crimes,” Chief Lanier said in a statement.

Preliminary statistics from the department’s online crime-mapping application show that 512 robberies without a gun and 311 robberies with a gun were reported this year as of Monday.

The businesses raided by police are:

• Lions Carryout in the 3600 block of Georgia Avenue Northwest

• Danny´s Carryout in the 600 block of H Street Northeast

• Dana Jewelry in the 900 block of H Street Northeast

• Northeast Market in the 1200 block of Mt. Olivet Road in Northeast

• Panda Carryout in the 1800 block of West Virginia Avenue Northeast

• The Gold Shop in the 600 block of Florida Avenue Northwest

• B & V in the 1300 block of North Capitol Street Northwest

• Dollar Discount in the 4500 block of Benning Road Southeast

• Dollar Magic in the 1500 block of Benning Road Northeast

• Night and Day Store in the 5000 block of Benning Road Southeast

• Shell Gas in the 4700 block of South Capitol Street Southeast

• Nana GSM in the 3500 block of Georgia Avenue Northwest

• American Wireless in the 4200 block of Wilson Boulevard in Arlington