Valerie Bonk started working at WTOP in 2016 and has lived in Howard County, Maryland, her entire life. She's thrilled to be a reporter for WTOP telling stories on air. She works as both a television and radio reporter in the Maryland and D.C. areas.

D.C. police have released a theft warning about a recent rise in robberies targeting citizens, particularly young people, for their designer sneakers while walking in our neighborhoods.

D.C. police issued a warning about the rising threat posed to those wearing designer sneakers in the city, particularly youth.

Police in D.C. issued a community warning, advising Washingtonians of the dangers of wearing designer goods while out and about in the District. Officers say robberies and thefts of some expensive items,

Amid an increase in recent robberies targeting young people wearing expensive designer sneakers, Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department is working to alert locals about the rise in shoe thefts.