Thieves hit Vincent Gray's home

First, apparent thieves steal two bikes from Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's garage, despite round-the-clock police protection at the mayor's Crestwood home.

Now, burglars have tried to break into the Hillcrest home of D.C. Council Chairman and mayoral candidate Vincent C. Gray.

Gray's campaign reports someone tried to gain access through a basement window Tuesday while the chairman was out campaigning. Gray was summoned home after the alarm sounded, Gray spokeswoman Traci Hughes said.

"His alarm went off and he was notified," Hughes said. "We don't know anything more about who tried to break in. MPD was notified, but I am not sure if they have any leads."

In an interview with the City Paper after the attempted break-in, Gray said he "didn't put aside any possibility" about who the possible burglars were.

But thieves have targeted Gray's home before. In May 2008, Gray reported that someone threw a rock through his basement window as he slept and entered his residence. They stole a radio receiver.

After that incident, Gray installed a fence around his property. But city officials have ordered him to remove, relocate or lower the fence because it exceeds the District's height limits on fences.

--Tim Craig