District E-13 crime up one percent with homicides, domestic aggravated assault and car breaks all increasing
The Boston Police Department released the third quarter crime stats for District E-13 (Mission Hill/Roxbury) and although overall crime is down one percent, homicides, domestic aggravated assault and car breaks have all increased.
When comparing January 1, 2019 through September 13, 2019 with the same time period this year, Homicides increased 83 percent, Domestic Aggravated Assaults are up 12 percent and Larceny from Motor Vehicles are up 40 percent.
Part One Crimes are the more serious crimes the Boston Police track.
By the third quarter of 2019 there were only 6 Homicides but the number jumped to 11 by the third quarter of 2020. Citywide there’s been a 50 percent increase in homicides.
Also a major concern since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March was an inevitable increase in domestic violence.
Domestic Aggravated Assault in Mission Hill/Roxbury increased from 128 to 143 when comparing the third quarter of 2019 with the third quarter of 2020. Citywide domestic violence has increased 8 percent.
“There is no excuse for domestic violence,” said the BPD in a statement. “With community members encouraged to stay home to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, the Boston Police Department recognizes the impact that COVID-19 is having on families in our community and the fact that some may find themselves confined with an abuser. This isolation can mean danger for some members of our City. Make no mistake, you are not alone and no one deserves to be abused. To those in need of help, there are resources available to you. Please reach out if you, or someone you know, is in need of help or safety planning. In the case of an emergency, CALL 9-1-1.”
Police said residents can also contact Domersitc Violence organizations like the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence; Association of Haitian Women in Boston/ Asosiyasyon Fanm Ayisyen nan Boston (AFAB); Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC); Casa Myrna Vasquez; or the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS).
By the third quarter of 2019 there were only 247 motor vehicle larcenies but that number has increased to 345 so far this year, a 40 percent increase. It seems the number of motor vehicle largencies, an opportunistic crime that only takes seconds to pull off, is up all over Boston.
Citywide the number has gone from 1,891 in the third quarter of 2019 to 2,377 so far in 2020, a 25 percent increase.
“The Department obviously takes great pride in the fact that arrests were made in all three incidents, we would, nevertheless, like to take this opportunity to remind community members to employ common sense preventative measures to protect items of value when exiting their vehicles,” said the statement. “As simple as it may sound, protecting your motor vehicle from a break-in starts with locking the doors and closing windows. Simple? Yes. But, highly effective.”
In fact, simple steps can often spell the difference between your car being broken into and the would-be thief moving on to another, more desirable target.
“More than anything else, thieves look for the easy score,” said the police. “So, don’t make it easy. If you have items of value, be it a cell phone, charger, money or iPad, take them with you when you exit your car. Because if a thief can see it, you can be sure he or she will do everything they can to steal it.”
As for other Part One Crimes in Distrct B-2 there have been one 25 Rape or Attemped Rape down from the 30 reported during the same period last year; Robbery or Attempted Robberty is down from 109 to 106; Non-Domestic Aggravated Assault is down from 292 to 281; Commercial Burglaries are up 22 to 44; Residential Burglaries are down from 131 to 120; other Larcencies are down from 534 to 387; and Auto Theft is up from 104 to 168.
So far this year there has been a total of 1,614 Part One Crimes, down from the 1,630 reported by the third quarter of 2019.