August 2017

August 2017 Produced by the Crime Analysis Unit

Cambridge Police BridgeStat August 2017

Part I Total Crime A review of reported incidents in Cambridge for the first eight months of 2017 reveals a 14% decrease in serious crime so far this year when compared with 2016, and when measured against the five-year average for the same time frame, a substantial 19% decline, with 349 fewer crimes than the projected total, was recorded. A breakdown of Part One crime statistics for the time period from January 1st to August 28th indicates that there were 1,516 serious crimes reported in the City over the first eight months of 2017. For the same time period in 2016, the combined total for Murder, Rape, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Burglary, Larceny & Auto Theft was 1,756 incidents, 240 more than this year. These shrinking crime statistics come fast on the heels of the final 2016 numbers, which represented the lowest crime index recorded in Cambridge since 1963. Further analysis of the crime totals for the first 240 days of 2017 indicates that violent crimes recorded a 9% decline with 18 fewer incidents, while property crimes slipped down 14% with 222 fewer crimes registered when compared with the same time frame in 2016. When measuring the serious crime totals of August of 2017 versus the previous month of July, a 5% increase has been documented, which can be attributed to a slight uptick in the overall Burglary total.

4 Week Snapshot 7/4 - 7/31 8/1 - 8/28 Change Total Violent Crime 18 27 50% Total Property Crime 201 202 0% Total Part I Crime

219

229

5%

Year to Date 2016 2017 Change 201 183 -9% 1555 1333 -14%

Five Year Avg Change 202 -9% 1663 -20%

1756 1516

1865

-14%

-19%

Cambridge Police BridgeStat

Part I Property Crime

August 2017

Further analysis of property crime totals for the first eight months of 2017 certifies a 14% decline when compared with the 2016 total and a 20% reduction below the fiveyear average, with 222 fewer incidents registered below the total of January to August 28th of last year and 330 crimes under the 1,663 crimes forecast for this time period. Eight of the 12 property crime categories recorded decreases when measured against the first 240 days of 2016. Larceny from motor vehicles recorded a significant reduction of 24% over the first eight months of the year. Other property crimes registering major declines when compared with 2016 include: larceny from residence (-36%); larceny from person (-34%); and larceny of bicycles (-14%). 4 Week Snapshot 7/4 - 7/31 8/1 - 8/28 Change Burglary 13 18 38% Commercial Break 7 4 -43% Housebreak 6 14 133% Larceny 182 177 -3% Larceny (Misc) 4 4 0% Larceny from Building 26 10 -62% Larceny from MV 37 40 8% Larceny from Person 7 14 100% Larceny from Residence 11 24 118% Larceny of Bicycle 47 49 4% Larceny of Plate 4 0 -100% Larceny of Services 5 4 -20% Shoplifting 41 32 -22% Auto Theft 6 7 17% Total Property Crime 201 202 0%

Year to Date 2016 2017 Change 207 174 -16% 32 35 9% 175 139 -21% 1265 1099 -13% 20 26 30% 198 185 -7% 234 177 -24% 146 97 -34% 187 119 -36% 241 207 -14% 14 21 50% 7 26 271% 218 241 11% 83 60 -28% 1555 1333 -14%

Five Year Avg Change 237 -27% 44 -20% 193 -28% 1344 -18% 23 13% 228 -19% 294 -40% 154 -37% 155 -23% 242 -14% 17 24% 9 189% 222 9% 82 -27% 1663 -20%


Part I Violent Crime

August 2017

The projected five-year weighted average for violent crime in Cambridge for the first eight months of the year is 202 incidents. Through August 28th of this year, there were 183 violent crimes recorded in the City, 18 crimes below last year (-9%) and 19 serious incidents under the total forecasted for the first 240 days of the year (-9%). There continues to be a significant increase in commercial robberies in Cambridge. Over the first eight months of 2017 this crime type has ballooned from 13 in 2016 to 30 incidents this year (+131%). This surge reflects a regional trend of a growing number of bank and convenience store robberies. Simultaneously, street robberies are down an astonishing 36% so far in 2017. There have been no operational patterns, series or hot spot concentrations involving street robberies in Cambridge so far in 2017. The rape total so far in 2017 of nine incidents is ten crimes under last year’s total for the same time period. There have been only five rapes recorded in Cambridge since the last week of March. There has not been a homicide recorded in Cambridge since June 25th of 2016.

4 Week Snapshot 7/4 - 7/31 Homicide 0 Rape 2 Robbery 6 Commercial Robbery 2 Street Robbery 4 Aggravated Assault 10 Total Violent Crime 18

8/1 - 8/28 Change 0 IN-CALC 1 -50% 12 100% 4 100% 8 100% 14 40% 27 50%

Year to Date 2016 2 19 55 13 42 125 201

2017 Change 0 IN-CALC 9 -53% 57 4% 30 131% 27 -36% 117 -6% 183 -9%

Five Year Avg 2 19 58 16 42 123 202

Change -100% -53% -2% 88% -36% -5% -9%


Percent Change*

August 2017

Last 4 Weeks

Previous Year

5-Year Average

In-Cal

In-Cal

-100%

*IN -CAL: Percentages are not calculated for numbers so small as to present a statistically misleading percentage.

• There have been no murders reported in Cambridge during the first two quarters of 2017. There were two murders reported in Cambridge throughout 2016. Both cases remain under investigation. • The last murder in Cambridge was on June 25th of 2016, when the Cambridge Police responded to a report of a shooting outside of 140 Harvard Street. Arriving officers discovered the victim, Anthony Clay, 49, of Cambridge suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. This was the second homicide recorded in the City in 2016. This case remains under investigation. • Verdict rendered in 2015 Murder: Antwan Gonsalves, 33, of Cambridge was arrested on September 24th, 2015, and charged with murder in connection with a homicide that involved a stabbing in Central Square on the night of September 12, 2015. Killed was Tywann Jones, 35, of Roxbury. On February 22nd of 2017, Gonsalves was convicted by a Middlesex Superior Court jury of firstdegree murder and was sentenced to life without parole at MCI Cedar Junction. • On May 18th of 2017, in Middlesex Superior Court, Harold Antoine Maxwell Jr. received a status date of June 29 on charges of first-degree murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, in connection with the murder of his 73-year-old uncle Jesse L. Maxwell Jr. Harold Maxwell has been held without bail since his November 2013 arrest, has submitted to a buccal swab, been granted access to the jail law library, and his attorney received state funds to hire a mentalhealth professional to evaluate his client.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

2

2

2

2

2

1

1 0

0 2012

2013 2014 Homicide

2015 2016 5 yr Avg

2017


Characteristics of Murder in Cambridge For the 30-year period between 1960 and 1989, the City of Cambridge averaged slightly less than five murders per year. The annual average since 1990 has fallen to approximately two per year. Trend analysis over recent years points to two recurring murder scenarios in Cambridge: domestic murder, in which one family member is brutally killed by another in a homicidal rage, and the murder of young males by a handgun or knife in acts of retaliatory street violence.

Cambridge Murder Statistics, 1990-2016 • 58 people murdered in 53 incidents (in 4 of the incidents, 2 or more people were killed) • 39 victims were male (average age of 34) • 19 victims were female (average age of 41) • Most common weapons: handguns (27 incidents) and knives (13 incidents) • 17 of the 53 cases are still under investigation or remain unsolved • 24 of the 32 cases since 2000 have been cleared by arrest or by the death of the suspect, including all three murders in both 2013 and 2015, and one of the two murders in 2014. There have been no arrests in the two murders in 2016.


Colin Burton, 30, of Dorchester, was shot and killed outside of Hi - Fi Pizza on Mass Ave in Central Square on September 18th, 1999. Burton was talking with the occupants of a Ford Explorer when the subject in the passenger seat fired through the window. Two suspects fled the scene. The case remains under active investigation.

April 5, 2002, Mass Ave

September 18, 1999, Mass Ave

Ian Gray,19, of Mattapan, was in an argument outside of the Rhythm & Spice restaurant that spilled out onto Mass Ave. A suspect that had left the scene returned with a group of people and a fight ensued. A knife was produced during the altercation and four gunshots were fired, fatally wounding Gray. This case remains open.

On June 17th, 2002 at 7:00PM, Ricardo Williams, 27, of Malden, was found in the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound to his face. Williams was taken to CCH where he was pronounced dead. This case remains open.

June 17, 2002, Windsor St.

*Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact CPD at 617-349-3370.*


Jason Ellcock, 33, of Malden, formerly of Cambridge and father of three, was found with multiple gunshot wounds in front of the driveway to 364 Rindge Ave at 3:05 AM on the night of June 16th, 2009. He was pronounced dead at the scene. This incident remains under investigation.

March 12, 2011, Brookline St.

June 16, 2009, Rindge Ave

James Lauture, 30, of Cambridge, was sitting in a vehicle near Brookline and Watson Streets just after midnight on Saturday, March 12th, 2011, when an unknown gunman opened fire. The occupants in the car were able to drive to Central Square. Lauture died from multiple gunshot wounds. The other man in the vehicle survived. This case remains open.

On June 3rd, 2012, Charlene Holmes, 16, of Cambridge, was shot while sitting on a porch on Willow St. She later succumbed to her wounds at the hospital. The investigation into this incident remains active, but no arrests have been made to date. June 3, 2012, Willow St

July 3, 2014, Windsor Street.

On July 3rd, 2014, at 10:00 PM, Kensley David, 22, suffered a single gunshot wound to the head while on Windsor Street. Investigators believe that the incident was not random. This case remains under investigation



Unsolved Murders: 1999 to 2016

August 2017

The first murder of 2016 in Cambridge occurred on the night of March 22nd when Armando Hernandez Jr, 30, of Belmont was killed by gunfire on Mt. Auburn St just before 10 PM. Area residents said they heard 10 or 11 gunshots. A second victim was hospitalized with a leg wound. This case remains under investigation. March 22, 2016, Mt Auburn St

On June 25th of 2016, Cambridge Police responded to a report of a shooting outside of 140 Harvard Street. Arriving officers discovered the victim, Anthony Clay, 49, of Cambridge suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. This case remains under investigation. June 25, 2016, 140 Harvard St.



Percent Change*

August 2017

Last 4 Weeks

Previous Year

5-Year Average

-50%

-53%

-53%

*IN -CAL: Percentages are not calculated for numbers so small as to present a statistically misleading percentage.

• The rape total for the first eight months of 2017 is nine incidents which is ten crimes under last year’s total for the same time period. There have been but five rapes recorded in Cambridge since the last week of March. • After recording zero rapes during the month of January for the first time since 2006, there were two rapes registered in the City of Cambridge in February and two in March of 2017. A contact incident was then reported in May and an acquaintance scenario was reported in June. The two rapes reported in July were categorized as acquaintance and domestic incidents. The rape recorded in August was categorized as an acquaintance crime. • Five of the rapes this year have been classified as acquaintance, two as domestic and two were counted as contact scenarios. • The final validation of rape statistics for 2016 indicate that there were 27 rapes reported in Cambridge last year. This number is two above the total for 2015 (+8%) and four incidents (+17%) above the five-year average of 23 rapes. The following is the final breakdown of Rape classifications in Cambridge for 2016: thirteen involving acquaintances, eight contact situations, four domestic sexual assault, and two blitz scenarios.

25

21 19

20

19

18

31 16

15

9

10

5

0 2012

2013

2014 Rape

2015 5 yr Avg

2016

2017


Percent Change

August 2017

• When comparing the total of aggravated assaults for the first eight months of 2017 with the same time frame last year, this violent crime has decreased by 6% with eight fewer incidents. The total of 117 aggravated assaults was 6 crimes (-5%) below the projected five-year average of 123 assaults through August 28th. • After recording two consecutive months of major declines in aggravated assault totals, which included a 29% dip from May to June of this year and a 33% drop from June to July, a 40% increase was measured (4 additional crimes) from July to August of 2017. • The 117 aggravated assaults over the first seven months of 2017 are comprised of the following classifications: 14 fights among acquaintances; 25 domestic situations; 3 juvenile assaults; 19 unprovoked scenarios; 15 bar brawls; 4 psychotic episode; 12 homeless scenarios; 5 confrontations between a shop owners and a patrons; 2 workplace assault, 11 traffic and parking situations, 7 assaults on a police officers. • Past trends indicate that invariably 30 to 40 percent of aggravated assaults are domestic related. That statistic has changed moderately over the first eight months of 2017 with only 25 of the 117 assaults (21%) classified as domestic.

Last 4 Weeks

Previous Year

+40%

-6%

5-Year Average

-5%

180

164 160

140

127

125 117

120

117 123

114

100

80

60

40

20

0 2012

2013

2014

Aggravated Assault

2015

2016 5 yr Avg

2017


Geographic Breakdown of Aggravated Assaults by Categorization: 1.1.17 – 8.28.17

August 2017

Past trends indicate that invariably 30 to 40 percent of aggravated assaults are domestic related. There has been a modicum change in that statistic over the first eight months of 2017 with only 25 of the 117 assaults (21%) classified as domestic.

3.8.17 – juvenile / gang Only shooting victim of 2017 – victim self-admitted to CCH

Breakdown of Assaults in Harvard Square for 2017: 4 Alcohol /Bar; 2 domestic; 4 traffic & parking, 6 unprovoked Breakdown of Assaults in Central Square for 2017: 11 Alcohol /Bar; 3 domestic; 3 shop owner / patron, 8 Homeless 5 unprovoked


Percent Change

August 2017

• The 5-year average for overall robbery in Cambridge for the first eight months of the year is 58 incidents. Between January and August 28th of 2017, 57 robberies were recorded, which indicates a 2% decrease below the projected total and a 4% rise from the 2016 total for this time frame. • Street robberies have plummeted downward an impressive 36% over the first eight months of this year. There have been no operational patterns, series or hot spot concentrations involving street robberies identified in Cambridge so far in 2017. There have been only 27 street robberies recorded over the first 240 days of the year. • There has been a significant increase in commercial robberies in Cambridge over the first eight months of 2017 from 13 in 2016 to 30 incidents this year (+131%). This surge reflects a regional trend of an escalation in the number of bank and convenience store robberies throughout New England. • One aspect of the commercial robbery escalation trend has been a surge in bank robberies throughout Eastern Massachusetts since Thanksgiving of 2016. Nine of the 30 commercial robberies in Cambridge for 2017 have been bank heists, one each in Harvard & Kendall Squares, three in Central, two in Porter Square, and two in Alewife.

Last 4 Weeks

Previous Year

5-Year Average

+100%

+4%

-2%

80

70

67 60

60

50

42 42

40

34 30

30 27

30

19

19

20

18

13

13

16

10

0 2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Street Robbery

Commercial Robbery

5 Yr Avg (Street)

5 Yr Avg (Commercial)


Geographic Breakdown of Bank Robberies: 2017

August 2017

Bank robbery in Porter Sq on 2.1.17 at 9:50AM - suspect handed a note to the teller – Arrest

Bank robbery in Harvard Square on 1.11.17 at 3:40PM - where suspect (see photo) handed a note to the teller

Bank robbery in Central Square on 5.26.17 at 10AM - where suspect handed note to teller - Arrest

Banks on Alewife Brook Pky on 3.8.17 & 7.12.17 where suspect handed note to teller

Bank robbery in Kendall Square on 3.31.17 at 4:00PM where suspect handed note to teller - Arrest

Bank robbery in Central Square on 3.9.17 at 12 PM - suspect handed note to teller - Arrest

Bank robbery in Porter Square on 1.10.17 at 3:30PM - suspect handed note to teller

Bank robbery in Central Square on 1.5.17 at 9:30AM – Arrest


Geographic Breakdown of Street Robbery: 1.1.17 – 7.31.17

August 2017

4.19.17 @ 9:30PM involved a strong - arm robbery of a middle age male who picked up his prescription of oxycontin and was jumped in the pit. 4.20.17 @ 3AM – arrest of Somerville juvenile for a bike-jacking.

6.26.17 @ 9:30PM – Strong arm near the Alewife T

7.8.17 (2 incidents) & 7.21.17 – 3 unrelated robberies in Harvard Square during July – two homeless & a pack Robbery

5.18.17 @ 1:45PM Amory Street Female victim – acquaintance

4.02.17 @ 5:15PM 5.13.17 @ 5PM 5.24.17 @ 1PM Central Square

7.15.17 @ 1:10AM – ATM robbery as victim left, no threats 6.30.17 @ 7:30PM – Arrest at Galleria Mall –suspect with knife

2.1.17 @ 7PM – Brattle Street- phone grab from female – no weapon 3.1.17 @ 3:30PM – Brattle & Story St suspects with box cutter demanded cash from male victim 2.5.17 @ 1AM – Harvard Squarestrong arm theft from male phone stolen from female – no weapon

6.7.17 @ 5:30PM – Clement Morgan Park - unarmed 4.12.17 @ 2:30AM – strong –arm robbery of male on Speridakis

2.10.17 @ 6:30PM – Cherry Street female victim – implied gun – forced to make ATM withdrawal


Geographic Breakdown of Street Robbery: 8.1.17 – 8.28.17

August 2017

Street robberies have plummeted downward an impressive 36% over the first eight months of this year. There have been no operational patterns, series or hot spot concentrations involving street robberies in Cambridge through July of 2017. There have been only 27 street robberies recorded over the first 240 days of 2017.

August 2017 Street Robberies

8.28.17 @ 12:30AM White Street – female victim of purse snatch leaving MBTA

8.12.17 @ 2:30PM – 45 Tremont St Teen male victim of internet sneaker scam “beat”

8.18.17 @ 12:15AM Broadway & Third Male Victim – strong arm – Arrest of Plymouth resident

8.8.17 @ 5AM – 731 Mass Ave Homeless male robbed by acquaintance

8.6.17 @ 6 PM – 5 Magazine St. Male victim of pack robbery

8.5.17 @ 11PM – 624 Mass Ave Predatory robbery – male leaving bar

8.25.17 @ 8PM – 11 First St Male victim of ATM robbery

8.25.17 @ 12PM – Mass Ave female victim of domestic robbery – boyfriend arrested


Percent Change

August 2017

• The property index crime of burglary, the combination of residential and commercial breaks, has recorded a significant decline of 27% for the first eight months of 2017 when compared to the five-year average, with 63 fewer incidents reported below the projected total of 237 breaks, and has fallen a solid 16% when measured with last year's total for the first 240 days of the year, with 33 fewer burglaries reported. • There have been three housebreak patterns identified in the neighborhoods of Central Square in 2017. An unusually large number of housebreaks were reported in January of 2017 with a pattern identified then eradicated. During the last ten days of March a new pattern was identified and an alert for a series of nighttime housebreaks in Riverside and MidCambridge was issued on April 4th, 2017. On April 13th, an arrest was made of a known offender who was a resident of the neighborhood. An alert for a new series of late night breaks in and around Central Square was issued during the last week of August. • The 5-year average for commercial burglary in Cambridge for the first eight months of the year is 44 incidents. Through August 28th of 2017, 35 commercial burglaries were recorded, which translates to a 20% decline below the forecasted 5-year average, and three incidents (+9%) above the 2016 total for the same time period. Through the first 240 days of 2017, there have been no commercial burglary patterns or series identified in the City.

Last 4 Weeks

Previous Year

+38%

-16%

5-Year Average

-27%

350

300

291

250

217 197 200

193

175 155 139

150

100

71 50 50

34

34

2013

2014

32

35

2016

2017

0

2012

2015

Housebreak

Commercial Break

5 Yr Avg (Residential)

5 Yr Avg (Commercial)

44


Geographic Breakdown of Housebreaks: 1.1.17 – 8.28.17

August 2017

A Somerville resident was arrested for a series of nighttime housebreaks in North Cambridge during the first week in June.

During the last ten days of March a new pattern was identified and an alert for a series of nighttime housebreaks in Riverside and Mid Cambridge was issued on April 4th, 2017. On April 13th, an arrest was made of a known offender who was a resident of the neighborhood, and this appears to have brought this series to an abrupt conclusion with no additional incidents in the area since that date.

Denotes Riverside April Pattern

There have been three housebreak patterns identified in the neighborhoods of Central Square in 2017. An unusually large number of housebreaks were reported in January of 2017 with a pattern identified then eradicated. An alert for a new series of late night breaks in and around Central Square was issued during the last week of August.

Sporadic activity in Mid-Cambridge and The Port during May ended with the linking of two professional housebreakers in disparate series through matching fingerprints.

January Pattern

New August Pattern


Geographic Breakdown of Commercial Breaks: 1.1.17 – 8.28.17

August 2017

The 5-year average for commercial burglary in Cambridge for the first eight months of the year is 44 incidents. Through August 28th of 2017, 35 commercial burglaries were recorded, which translates to a 20% decline below the forecasted 5-year average, and three incidents (+9%) above the 2016 total for the same time period. Through the first 240 days of 2017, there have been no commercial burglary patterns or series identified in the City.

Marked increase in commercial burglaries over the past seven weeks with eleven incidents scattered around the City reported. Breaks were an eclectic grouping which included: 4 restaurants, a school, 3 offices, a church, a youth center and the Golf Course. Only similarity in these crimes was the overnight time frames.


Percent Change

August 2017

• Overall larceny through the first eight months of 2017 is down 13% compared with the same time frame in 2016. The total of 1,099 larcenies reported year-to-date is also 18% below the 5-year weighted average of 1,344 incidents through the end of August. • Larcenies from MVs have plummeted 24% over the first eight months of 2017 when compared with the same time period in 2016. The last month saw a slight increase of 8% from July to August, with 40 being reported in August. • Larcenies from the person have fluctuated month to month this year, with August reporting 14 incidents. Despite the constant ups and downs, this crime type yearto-date is still down 34% when compared with the first eight months of 2016. The most active area of the city this year has been Harvard Sq. with 33 incidents, followed by Central Square with 23. • There have been 185 larcenies from buildings reported through August 28, 2017. This represents a 7% drop (13 incidents) below the 198 incidents reported in 2016 and a 19% decrease below the 5-year average of 228. There are no patterns or trends of this crime at the present time. • Larcenies from residences are down 36% (68 incidents) through the first eight months of 2017. Package thefts from doorsteps and lobbies represent 55% (65) of the 119 thefts from residences year-to-date. Through this time last year, there had been 91 reported package thefts. • Through August 28, 2017, there have been 207 bikes reported stolen, down 34 (-14%) from the 241 thefts reported through the same time in 2016 and down 35 (14%) from the 5-year average of 242.

Last 4 Weeks

Previous Year

-3%

-13%

5-Year Average

-18%

1800

1631 1539

1600

1400

1280

1321 1344

1265

1200

1099 1000

800

600

400

200

0 2012

2013

2014 Larceny

2015 5 yr Avg

2016

2017

Percent Change


Last 4 Weeks

August 2017

+8% • Statistics for larceny from motor vehicles have tumbled downward 24% for the first eight months of 2017 when compared with the same time period in 2016. There have been 57 fewer thefts from cars reported so far this year. This property crime has also declined 40% when measured against the 5-year average, with 117 fewer incidents than the projected total of 294 thefts from cars. • Part of the overall decrease can be traced to the total of 13 larcenies from motor vehicles in January, a nonsnowstorm-effected month, which was a stunningly low number for this crime type. Only two other months this year outside of August, which reported 40, has registered over 20 larcenies from motor vehicles: April with 23 and July with 37. In the past these low numbers were unheard of, yet this seems to have become the new norm. • When comparing the most recent four weeks to the previous four weeks, this index crime exhibited an increase of 8% (+3 incidents) from July to August. The 40 larcenies from motor vehicles in August were concentrated in the specific areas of Cambridgeport, North Cambridge, Peabody, and West Cambridge. Most of these incidents occurred during the nighttime or early morning hours, and the majority involved entry through unlocked doors.

Previous Year

5-Year Average

-24%

-40%

500

450

433

400

376

350

290

300

296 294

234

250

200

177

150

100

50

0 2012

2013

2014

Larceny from MV

2015

2016 5 yr Avg

2017


Geographic Breakdown of Larceny from MVs: 1.1.17 – 8.28.17

August 2017

Sharp increase in weekend night breaks in Peabody on side street off of Mass Ave. Majority of incidents were during the first two weeks of July. Side streets off of Concord Ave saw 5 reports on 8/22-8/23.

Twelve of the fifteen breaks into unlocked cars in East Cambridge were committed in a three-week window from late March to the middle of April. Only three incidents in the past six weeks. An arrest was made of a homeless male on Hampshire St in the middle of June. Both East and Mid Cambridge only reported 3 incidents each during the month of August.

Spike in larceny from motor vehicle activity on weekend nights on side streets off of Huron Village during June continued into July until the arrest of a North Cambridge resident for breaking into a car on Lexington Ave on 7.20.17. Sporadic activity throughout August, mostly early Sunday mornings. Seven of the 15 thefts from cars in February were part of a one-night spree on the periphery of Central Square on February 1st. Spike in daytime breaks into cars in Cambridgeport during July with 8 reported. August reported 7 overnight breaks in the Cambridgeport area.


Percent Change

August 2017

• Larcenies from the person were on the rise during 2016 after two years of very little activity and few patterns. Meanwhile, activity in 2017 has been a mix of highs and lows, with every other month seeing a spike in activity. There were 9 reported in January, 19 in February, 5 in March, 22 in April, 10 in May, 9 each in June and July and 14 in August. Overall larceny from the person is still down considerably both when compared to the same time last year (-34%) and when compared to the five year average (-37%). • Harvard Square has seen the most activity thus far in 2017, with 33 of the 97 incidents citywide occurring in this tourist/student hotspot. However, only three incidents were reported in this area in August. The Central Square area has experienced the next largest number year-to-date with 23, followed by the East Cambridge/Galleria area with 18. • The majority of incidents have involved thefts from patrons while dining, pickpocketing incidents, or the theft of unattended items that victims left behind. • The most likely times for larcenies from persons citywide this year are 1pm – 3pm on Monday, Thursday, and Saturdays, and 7pm – 11pm on Mondays and Saturdays. • Never leave your personal belongings unattended while you go to a counter or run to the restroom in a restaurant or cafe; this is the perfect opportunity for items to be stolen.

Last 4 Weeks

Previous Year

5-Year Average

+100%

-34%

-37%

300

250

246

242

200

146

150

154

136 112 97

100

50

0 2012

2013

2014

2015

Larceny from Person

2016 5 yr Avg

2017


Geographic Breakdown of Larceny from Persons: 1.1.17 – 8.28.17

August 2017

Harvard Square has seen the most activity thus far in 2017, with 33 of the 97 incidents citywide. However, in the last two months only three incidents have been reported in the Harvard Square area, all in August. The Central Square area has experienced the next largest number year-to-date with 23, followed by the East Cambridge/Galleria area with 18. February experienced a spike in activity partly due to the reemergence of thefts from a former hotspot in the Harvard Square area. Meanwhile, a spike in April can be at least party attributed to thefts from patrons at bars/clubs in Central Square on Thursday – Sunday nights.

The Galleria Mall, which only shows as a single “dot” on the map, has experienced 18 larcenies from the person so far in 2017. These thefts are typically from shoppers or diners in the food court.


Percent Change

August 2017

• The surge in bike thefts continues with thefts up 4% in August over July. There have been 207 bike thefts reported through the first eight months of 2017. This is 34 incidents below the total reported during the same time frame last year (-14%) and 35 incidents below the 5-year average of 242 (-14%). • Two-thirds of the bike thefts thus far in 2017 (or 141) have been reported in lower Cambridge. • 70 of the 207 bicycles stolen year-to-date in 2017, or 34%, were left unlocked at the time of the thefts. • The leading neighborhoods for bike thefts in August were Mid Cambridge with 12 and East Cambridge with 7. • No arrests for bike thefts were made in August; however, two were made in July. On 7/18, a homeless male was arrested after witnesses saw him take a bike from Bishop Allen Dr & Temple St. The other was on 7/28; a Dorchester male was arrested after a witness saw him cut the lock off a bike in Harvard Sq. • Top Neighborhoods for Bike Thefts Year-To-Date: Neighborhood

YTD Total

% Citywide

Cambridgeport

38

18%

Mid Cambridge

36

17%

East Cambridge

21

10%

Peabody

20

10%

The Port

19

9%

Last 4 Weeks

Previous Year

5-Year Average

+4%

-14%

-14%

300

257

256 246

250

241 242

225 207 200

150

100

50

0 2012

2013

2014

Larceny of Bicycle

2015

2016 5 yr Avg

2017


Geographic Breakdown of Bicycle Larcenies: 1.1.17 – 8.28.17

August 2017

The anticipated surge in bike thefts finally hit with the warmer weather. Since June 1st there have been 145 bike thefts reported, accounting for 70% of the yearly total. Central Square is the major hotspot with 22% of all bike thefts this year, but activity is spreading outward toward Harvard Square. Mid-Cambridge (which contains part of both Central and Harvard Squares) reported the largest number of bike thefts in August with 12.

Harvard Square historically has been a hotspot for bicycle thefts, but this year there was limited activity until July. There were 10 bike thefts reported there in July and 5 in August, which is more than half of all activity in that area for the year.


Geographic Breakdown of Package Thefts: 1.1.17 – 8.28.17

August 2017

Larcenies from residences are down 36% (68 incidents) through the first eight months of 2017. Package thefts from doorsteps and lobbies represent 55% (65 of the 119) of the thefts from residences year-to-date. Through this time last year, there had been 91 reported package thefts. There have been 10 package thefts reported in August, spread throughout the city with Cambridgeport being the only neighborhood to report multiple incidents (3, with 2 of those at the same large apartment building on Memorial Dr).

This area that shows as a hot spot has seen the largest volume of activity this year with 14 package thefts. However, there have only been two reported in this area since the beginning of summer.

Percent Change Previous Year


Last 4 Weeks

August 2017

+17% • The projected 5-year weighted average for auto thefts for the first eight months of the year is 82 incidents. With 60 thefts reported thus far in 2017, we are 27% (22 incidents) below the average and 28% (23 incidents) below the number reported during this time frame in 2016. In the most recent four weeks compared to the previous four weeks, there has been an increase of 17%, or 1 incident. • There were seven auto thefts reported in January, five in February, six in March, thirteen in April, four in May, eight in June, ten in July, and seven in August. • At this time only 22 of the 60 (37%) have been recovered. • So far in 2017, East Cambridge remains in the top spot for stolen autos with 10, followed by Peabody with 9, West Cambridge with 7, Inman/Harrington with 6, The Port, Cambridgeport, and Mid-Cambridge with 5, North Cambridge and Riverside with 4, MIT with 2, and Agassiz, Strawberry Hill, and the Highlands with 1 each. • We tend to see an increase in scooter/moped thefts with the warmer weather, but this year we have not. In April, there were four such thefts reported. This activity dropped off in May with zero citywide. One twowheeled vehicle (a motorcycle) was stolen in June. A scooter and three motorcycles were reported stolen in July, and one moped and one motorcycle were stolen in August.

5-Year Average

-28%

-27%

100

90

88 85

83

83 82

80

72 70

60 60

50

40

30

20

10

0 2012

2013

2014 Auto Theft

2015 5 yr Avg

2016

2017


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