Same Man May Have Robbed Gas Station, Cabbies

A single suspect is thought to have been responsible for a rash of crimes last month in the District, including a gas station holdup and a half-dozen robberies of cabdrivers, three of whom said the assailant stole their vehicles, police said.

The suspect, whose photo was taken by a surveillance camera during one of the incidents, is thought to have robbed four cabdrivers of cash in the first few weeks of September after he suggested to the victims that he had a weapon, police said. They said one of the drivers was also robbed of his taxi.

Later in the month, police said, the same man is thought to have stolen cash from a gas station at knifepoint and carjacked two taxis, displaying a gun to one of the drivers.

Each of the first four robberies occurred after the suspect hailed a cab, asked to be taken to an address and then "implied he had a weapon and demanded money," police said.

Those crimes occurred at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 4 in the 1200 block of Evarts Street SE; 3:30 p.m. Sept. 8 in the 1500 block of Montana Avenue NE; midnight Sept. 10 in the 2200 block of 13th Street NE; and 3 p.m. Sept. 17 in the 1500 block of Channing Street NE, police said.

In the Channing Street robbery, police said, the suspect also took the driver's taxi.

The same man is thought to have brandished a knife at a Lowest Price gas station in the 2800 block of 12th Street NE, fleeing with an undetermined amount of money, police said. Officers said that robbery occurred at 2:40 p.m. Sept. 22.

Police said they think the suspect carjacked taxis at 10 a.m. Sept. 27 in the 1400 block of Hamlin Street NE and midnight Sept. 28 in the 1000 block of Douglas Street NE. In the latter incident, the man showed a gun, police said.

Officers described the suspect as a man 35 to 40 years old and about 5-foot-10 with a slim build and a goatee.

Police were offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and indictment and asked anyone with a tip to call 202-727-9099, 888-919-2746 or 866-411-8447 or send a text message to 50411.