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MiniPresence In August, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) rolled out another way to take a bite out of crime: Open-Air MiniStations, which, according to the department’s Web site, are highly visible picnic-table-and-chair sets that will “let drug dealers, gang members and other criminals know that illegal activity will not be tolerated.” The site includes a map of the seven police districts and uses a cute table-with-umbrella graphic to denote MiniStation locations. At the 4th District site on the 1400 block of Monroe Street NW last Tuesday afternoon, a cop was slouching in a lawn chair under an umbrella, sucking on a mango slice. But the officer explained that the setup was indeed a real fruit stand, not the MiniStation, which, she claimed, had moved to Georgia Avenue and Hobart Street NW. A short jaunt over to Hobart revealed a bike cop but no lawn furniture. Fourth District Lt. Andre Rogers insisted that the MiniStation was open for business at Hobart. “If they weren’t there, I will find out why,” he responded. Could he call back to explain what happened? “No, this is a police matter,” Rogers added.
Net Loss Posted on the MPD’s 3rd District crime report: a theft last Sunday afternoon on the 100 block of W Street NW. The grand heist? Tennis balls, valued by the “victim” at $100.