14th Street business security measures remain intact after neighboring burglary

Some local business leaders remain confident in the security of their 14th Street locations, but others have concerns after burglars stole $20,000 worth of merchandise from Commonwealth last week.

These owners say the area is generally safe with increased police presence during the crime uptick.

“14th Street is getting a little tough at night, late nights,” Lupo Pizzeria owner Med Lahlou said. “[Police hanging around] are trying to clean up the mess that’s happening late at night.”

Three women in their early twenties were arrested in the burglary after midnight Sept. 10 at 14th and U streets for burglary, resisting arrest and fleeing from law enforcement, according to Metropolitan police. A Commonwealth employee said the streetwear brand is not commenting on the incident.

The burgled store is part of a quarter-square-mile section of D.C. — bordered by W and 16th streets to the north and west and ending near S and 9th streets to the south and east — that has had 21 burglaries in the last year, the highest out of any quarter-square-mile area in the District, according to a crime heat map by the Metropolitan Police Department. Over the last year, the average number of burglaries in a quarter-square-mile area in D.C. is 3.7. 

Kristi Maiselman, executive director of CulturalDC, said she finds the burglary concerning since it’s on the same block as the organization’s headquarters and performance venue, Source Theatre.

“We certainly took more precautions and let all of our resident organizations and tenants know to be sure that they’re making sure all the internal doors are locked when they’re leaving for the day,” Maiselman said.

Businesses on 14th Street have different theft-prevention measures. CulturalDC has monitored security and external cameras. Lou Lou Boutique’s metal detector is positioned at the front doors. Yoga District encourages its students to keep their belongings near them during class. Georgetown Optician and CityPaws Animal Hospital have security gates. Som Records and Ron the Barber are at ease with just locking their doors at night — but Som Records has a sign on the door saying staff reports suspicious people and activity to law enforcement.

“I think if there were additional incidents, then we would certainly have to look at whether or not additional security during events was warranted,” Maiselman said. “But given the timing of some of the events, you know it’s not happening right now during daylight business hours, which is good, but certainly that can change.”

Maiselman’s main concern is how the crime affects the public’s desire to attend shows in the area.

“We’ve been struggling to get people back to the theater at rates that are on par with before the pandemic, and so all of these events, all of this crime, gives our patrons more reason to not want to come and to not feel safe in what otherwise has been a very safe community for a very long period of time,” she said.

Retired security consultant Chris McGoey, who was qualified to testify as an expert in state and federal courts for 40 years, describes stores as “boxes” with doors and windows. Typical security measures, he said, include locks, nightlights and burglar alarms.

“That’s the way it’s always been, and that always seemed to be enough,” McGoey said. “Now it doesn’t. It doesn’t seem to be enough because the perpetrators in these sprees will force entry into the business.”

He suggests business owners buy good insurance and fortify storefronts with plexiglass, commercial doors, high-tech alarms and video systems. 

“What [a burglarized business] was doing before, it didn’t work,” McGoey said. “Just making repairs and bringing it up to the same level, you really haven’t changed anything. A similar method could occur to you again; you could become a victim again.”

Abigail Koller, manager of Lou Lou Boutique, said increased communication between 14th Street businesses would help each other to stay informed to prevent repeat offenses.

“[I’d like] if all the stores on the street could come together on some form of forum or website and be like, ‘Hey, this person has been going from here to here,’” Koller said.

Maiselman said 14th Street retailers work closely with the Logan Circle Main Street Group.

“[Crime] is something that certainly everybody’s concerned about, and everybody is willing to participate and do what’s necessary to make sure that our patrons [feel safe],” Maiselman said. “It’s been hard enough for everybody since the pandemic, and we don’t need one more reason for people to not want to come out.”

Lahlou said his pizzeria hasn’t had any burglaries or security threats in its four years on 14th Street but remains cautious.

“You’ve always got to be careful, always watch your back,” Lahlou said. “You never know.”