WASHINGTON – Scooters are a great way to get from point A to point B.

That is if thieves don’t steal them first.

Metro Transit Police officials published a video on social media this week, noting that scooter thefts are on the rise. They told FOX 5 they’ve handled reports of 28 scooter thefts so far in 2024, which is a 22 percent increase from the same period the year before.

Now, they’re urging scooter owners to use U-locks to keep their scooters safe when locked up.

“They got the right idea,” Skylar White told FOX 5 Wednesday at Dupont Circle, adding that she now uses a U-lock on her scooter – after her last one was stolen in D.C.

“I think it’s devastating,” White said of the thefts. “They’re not cheap, and they’re great modes of transportation. So, to hear that they’re just going missing isn’t great. I hope that whoever’s taking them needs the money.”

Metro Transit Police officials also said that in an effort to deter the thefts, they’re conducting additional patrols.

A Maryland-based pest control company has agreed to pay Washington, D.C., nearly $140,000 after allegedly polluting the city with toxic chemicals.

District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb’s office accused Kenmore Pest Control & Termite Services of illegally and repeatedly applying pesticides in the district, endangering residents and harming the city’s natural resources.

Kenmore regularly works in Washington and employs approximately 20 people, according to the attorney general’s office.

City inspectors observed the pest control company improperly applying harmful pesticides around two apartment complexes, Mayfair Mansion Apartments in Ward 7 and Columbia Heights Village in Ward 1, according to Schwalb’s office.

At Mayfair Mansion Apartments, Kenmore applied a chemical harmful to humans and highly toxic to birds, fish, and wildlife, according to the attorney general’s office. The district intervened, incurring $12,000 in expenses for cleaning up the contaminated soil.

At Columbia Heights Village, the company allegedly applied a dangerous pesticide in areas accessible to children and pets. WTOP reported that a resident’s dog was poisoned after consuming the pesticide and had to have its stomach pumped at the vet.

Kenmore also allowed unqualified employees to apply restricted-use pesticides for years and misled consumers about its illegal practices, according to Schwalb’s office.

“Washingtonians have a right to be safe from toxic contamination in their homes and neighborhoods,” Schwalb said in a statement. “This settlement continues to make clear that if you violate our environmental protection laws, damage our natural resources, and threaten the health and safety of our residents, the Office of Attorney General will hold you accountable.”

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Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Kenmore must pay $125,000 in civil penalties to the district and $12,006 in clean-up costs.

The company’s employees must also receive eight hours of pest management training from a course approved by the district, Maryland, or Virginia.

WASHINGTON – The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby are expected to bring heavy rain and flooding concerns to the Washington, D.C. area from Thursday into Friday as the deadly storm marches north up the East Coast.

FOX 5’s Tucker Barnes and Taylor Grenda say showers and thunderstorms are likely Wednesday afternoon and into the overnight hours. The main impact from Debbie’s tropical moisture moves through our region from Thursday into Friday as steadier, heavier waves of rain drench the area. The bulk of the storm’s energy is expected to taper off to showers by Friday afternoon and night. 

The excess moisture from Debby’s remnants is raising flooding concerns across portions of the I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Low-lying areas, especially those prone to flooding, are most susceptible. Potential gusty winds and tidal flooding are also concerns as the storm lingers Friday.

The storm is expected to move out of the D.C. region by Saturday morning, leaving us with a sunny and dry weekend with temperatures in the mid-80s.

Debby is expected to make landfall for a second time along the South Carolina coastline late Wednesday. The storm carried the threat, not only of additional rainfall, but also of tornadoes in coastal sections of the Carolinas spreading north into southeast Virginia on Thursday.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency Tuesday ahead of the storm’s arrival. “There is the potential for strong winds, heavy rains, and possible flooding across regions of the Commonwealth,” he said in a statement released Tuesday. “It’s crucial that we work together and remain vigilant during these times to minimize the impact of the storm. The effects of Debby are far-reaching, and our neighboring states are facing significant challenges.”

Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore signed a State of Preparedness declaration Tuesday as the storm approaches. “Residents and visitors should monitor local weather forecasts, remain vigilant, and be prepared to follow safety instructions from local emergency officials,” he said in a statement Tuesday.

Debby made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday along the Gulf Coast of Florida. The slow moving storm drenched coastal cities in Georgia and South Carolina late Monday into Tuesday. At least six storm-related deaths have been reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.