In what will be the last Boston Police Department’s last crime stat report before the end of the year, the report released last week shows homicide, domestic aggravated assault and larceny from motor vehicles, or car breaks, in Mission Hill/Roxbury continue to be a problem.
Part One Crimes, the more serious crimes the Boston Police track, are up four percent overall in Mission Hill/Roxbury when comparing Jan. 1 2020 through Nov. 8 2020 with the same time period last year.
By this point in 2019 there were only 6 Homicides but the number jumped to 13 during the same time period in 2020–representing a 116 percent increase. Citywide there’s been a 53 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 149 to 173 when comparing 2019 with 2020–an increase of 16 percent. Citywide domestic violence has increased 5 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 this point in 2019 there were only 291 motor vehicle larcenies but that number has jumped to 419 so far this year, a 44 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 2,332 in 2019 to 2,932 so far in 2020, a 26 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 Rape or Attemped Rape is down from 37 to 28; Robbery or Attempted Robberty is down from 128 to 132; Non-Domestic Aggravated Assault is up slighlty from 336 to 339; Commercial Burglaries are up from 27 to 52; Residential Burglaries are down from 170 to 141; other Larcencies are down from 639 to 483; and Auto Theft is up from 122 to 206.
So far this year there has been a total of 1,986 Part One Crimes, up from the 1,916 reported during the same time period as 2019.