WJLA reports that there have been at least 18 armed robberies since Monday—an abnormal spike— including one last night:

But Thursday night there was the 11th armed robbery Northwest DC has seen since Monday, a huge spike from normal.

Thursday morning, there were three other armed robberies in Northwest, including on Decatur Street, M Street not far from the White House, and at 20th and N near Dupont Circle.

One DC council member says residents will be less of a target if they don’t talk on cell phones or use headphones while walking.

Although most of the robberies have been after dark, some have been during the day.

Police wouldn’t say what they’re doing to try to stop these robberies, but one official says they’ve stepped up patrols.

On Tuesday, cops said in a release, they arrested two people suspected of committing multiple robberies on Monday, with spokesperson Gwendolyn Crump noting, “These arrests follow two significant arrests of additional suspects who were both apprehended within the last five days in connection with multiple armed robberies and car jackings.”

Photo by Darrow Montgomery