As Crime Rates Go Down and People Feel Safe In The Neighborhood, GPS Devices Get Stolen
DOWNTOWN CROSSING -- Crime has dropped by 24 percent last year from 2006.
"We’d like to think we’ve helped," said a police spokesman Officer James Kenneally.
Kenneally said the crime rates have gone down mainly because the police have increased foot patrols in the area.
"It is the neighborhood with the lowest crime rates," said Rosemarie Sansone, president of theDowntown Crossing Association.
Officer Thomas Lema said in an e-mail that police have been targeting drug dealers, many of whom have been identified as homeless, around Boston Common.
"As a result of the drug arrests and displacement of others associated with this type of crime," Lema said, "we have seen a reduction in the numbers of assaults and robberies that are crimes associated with drugs."
Denise Henrahan, a substance abuse councilor at the Kingston House which is a homeless shelter, said many of the homeless at the shelter abuse drugs and have committed crimes.
"They tell me what I want to hear," Henrahan said. "They try to do good."
Police reported a 36 percent increase of thefts in Downtown Crossing from motor vehicles in 2006. According to a police report for District 1(Downtown), 171 GPS devices were stolen from motor vehicles in 2007.
Officer Kenneally said GPS systems are stolen because they are easy to get and are wanted because of their high value. He said the police are trying to raise awareness and educate people not to leave them in their cars.
"That’s an invitation for trouble," Kenneally said.
Kate Crawford, who has worked at the Downtown Crossing Association for two years, said she has not seen GPS devices being stolen.
"It’s a matter of people not taking proper precautions," Crawford said.
In the first two months of the year crimes such as robbery, larceny and car theft have dropped by 87 from the same time last year. Crimes such as rape, aggravated assault and burglary have increased by 37 crimes. Even though crimes have increased, the police report shows that the crime in A-1 Downtown Area has decreased by 49 crimes.