WASHINGTON – A 60-year-old Washington D.C. man was sentenced to prison for breaking into a local hardware store, stealing from the register, and fleeing on foot.
Earl Britt, 60, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 36 months in prison for burglarizing the W.S. Jenks & Sons Hardware store on February 12, 2024. Britt pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree burglary in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on March 7, 2024.
According to the government’s evidence, Britt smashed the front glass window pane of the store located at 910 Bladensburg Rd, NE, with a cinder block and crawled inside. Surveillance video from the store captured Britt destroying the glass windowpane, entering the store, and searching the register drawers for cash.
A short time later, Britt was seen leaving the store through the same broken window where he entered and fled on foot along Bladensburg Rd NE. Britt was apprehended a short time later, after officers matched his description with the surveillance video and eyewitness account.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Cocuzza and Lindsey Miller, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
The W.S. Jenks & Sons Hardware store manager received an alert on his phone when Britt broke into the store and provided footage from the surveillance video to law enforcement. The incident highlights the importance of quick action and effective communication between law enforcement and business owners in preventing and investigating crime.
Britt’s sentencing marks a significant victory for law enforcement in the District of Columbia, demonstrating the commitment to holding accountable those who engage in violent and destructive behavior. As the investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department will continue to work tirelessly to keep the community safe and bring perpetrators to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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