Some in Congress what to do more than just say no

Republican Rep. Frank R. Wolf, from Washington's Virginia suburbs, said he would support additional federal funding for crime control in the district.

Although officials cannot control the economic or cultural factors behind some crimes, they can focus on crimes of opportunity, like the Mall robberies.

"The people who did it … saw an opportunity that they thought would allow them to commit a crime and get away with it," McDonald said, adding that increased patrols can deter criminals by increasing their risk of getting caught.

D.C. Cracks Down During Crime Lull
By Heather Gehlert, Times Staff Writer
July 22, 2006