. >> reporter: theless la less lad area where the street dead ends into a construction site and bicycle trail is a magnet for crime. ross patterson and his friends often bike down at the park. he says they avoid that part of water street. >> the city could do better with the lighting, so light draws away things like that. so it's like, you know, kids are going to be drawn to an area where i smell substances there. >> reporter: most of the crime reported trespassing, drinking in public. this shows two men suspected of taking two bicycles. they innesitially are unaware o security cameras and grab what they can to disguise themself. raised the concern of residents and people who work in the area. d.c. police say in a statement they have received reports of illegal activity in the area adding recently we've increased the amount of patrols to this area and have been working with our partners at the u.s. park police to address this on going problem. d.c. police statistics show an uptick in both robberies and assaults in which guns were not used in this same area in recent weeks. jackie benson