News Van Burglarized During Anti-Robbery Press Conference: Report

PHOTO of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser Wednesday, announcing a task force to combat robberies in the District; photo courtesy of Mayor’s Office, via Twitter

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WASHINGTON, DC -- Irony alert: A news crew team’s car was ransacked Wednesday during a press conference announcing the formation of a task force to combat robberies in DC, according to WJLA-TV.

The WJLA-TV news team’s car window was smashed in, and items were taken, they reported, during a news conference being held by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser about crime in the city. Police Chief Cathy Lanier joined the mayor at the news conference.

The two were announcing a task force to combat robberies at the news conference, held at Eastern Market Metro Station, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Violent crime has no place in DC — on the streets, in homes or on Metro, the Mayor said Wednesday.

According to ABC7 News reporter Stephen Tschida, thieves tore through the news vehicle Wednesday and a culprit smashed a window out of the car and stole a cache of equipment, WJLA reported.

Tschida said the crime happened a few feet away from where the mayor and chief were speaking.

The Task Force, comprised of DC Police, the Metro Transit Police Department, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) “will ensure maximum coordination between different parts of the criminal justice system to combat robberies,” the Mayor’s Office said.

“The Task Force will target offenders by quickly identifying and responding to patterns of a robbery spree,” according to the Mayor’s Office. “The Task Force will also focus on developing the strongest cases possible to prosecute repeat offenders, and remove them from our streets. Prosecutors from the OAG and USAO have committed resources to ensure that arrests related to such robberies will be prioritized.”