WASHINGTON — A disturbing video a DC homeowner shared with WUSA9 shows Halloween decorations stolen from a front porch by young children – seemingly under the direction of two adults.

The theft happened on October 12 around 8:30 p.m. off busy Alabama Avenue, SE.

Ring camera footage shows three young children climbing onto the porch and peering into the home. Seconds later an adult appears in the frame, watching the children as a second adult stands guard a bit further away on the sidewalk as traffic whizzes by.

“I was just really disgusted that the parents were there,” said the homeowner.

Shelly is a long-time homeowner in Hillcrest. WUSA9 chose not to use her last name and she did not show her face on camera. But said she was disturbed when she watched her Ring camera footage, not because her Halloween decorations were stolen but how.

“It was almost like they were being directed which was concerning to me,” Shelly explained. “You know these little babies, which quite frankly I felt sorry for, especially the little one because when they got up and ran, they sort of left him behind coming up the rear. I mean what kind of parent! I feel like if they would do something like this and involve their children, they would do just about anything.”

At a time when youth crime in DC is soaring with 363 young people arrested in the first six months of 2023, we are beginning to hear the same cries from city leaders: that solving our crime crisis begins at home.

They need to know we love them, but also, we expect more from them,” said community activist Ron Moten.

Now there is a new outlet to offer support and resources to those parents who need it. Ron Moten and Don’t Mute DC are hosting a parenting workshop this Sunday at THEARC in Ward 8. The police chief and Attorney General will join community partners to have real conversations with the goal of getting real results. Posted by JR