Crime in Boston, including Jamaica Plain, decreased overall in 2009 for the third straight year. However, in Jamaica Plain, rapes and attempted rapes increased by over 100% and robberies by almost 70%, E-13 police reported last night at the first community meeting of 2010.
Jamaica Plain District Commander Captain John Greland opened the meeting by discussing the recent murder of Surendra Dangol, the Tedeschi’s clerk who was gunned down during a robbery on December 26th. No new information was made available but Greland rejected the report of a connection between a recent robbery of a South End 7-11 and the murder, as reported by the Boston Globe.
The number of rapes and attempted rapes rose from eight in 2008 to 18 in 2009. Robberies jumped to 177 incidences in 2009 from 122 in 2008.
Police didn’t speculate on the cause of the increases, but cautioned that Jamaica Plain was not in the midst of a crime wave. Crime rates were in line with the city average said Greland. “These were not ‘blitz-rapes,’ most would be considered date-rapes not random attacks.”
A Rape Aggression Defense course (R.A.D.) to help are women assess and reduce risks as well as learn basic self-defense will be held on January 13, 14, 20 and 21, from 6 pm to 9 pm at the New Academy Estates located on 2918 Washington Street. The course is exclusively for women said E-13’s Community Service officer Sergeant Eric Krause, and will be conducted by certified R.A.D. instructors.
The majority of 2009 robberies occurred near the Jamaica Plain T-stations where thefts of cell phones and iPods were disproportionately common, police said. They urged caution with the public use of electronic devices while walking to and from the T, hoping to prompt a change in behavior from the community and reduce the number of opportunities.
Most of the robberies were committed by small groups of males between the ages of 18-24, and tended to occur between 5 and 11 pm in the areas of Boylston and Chestnut streets by the Stony Brook T-Station and in areas surrounding the Jackson Square station. Most did not involve weapons, police said, and were classified as, “strong-arm” crimes where assailants grabbed and ran.
Although many arrests had been made, “It would be necessary to have an officer on every street corner to stop the robberies,” said Greland, “and that’s not going to happen.” He did highlight a new permanent foot patrol that has been established at Egleston Square and stressed that its creation was the direct result of community feedback to Boston Police.
In response to a question from community members in attendance, Greland said he was unaware and didn’t believe the investigation of the recent fire at 26 Sigourney Street would be classified as arson. The construction crews at the site were using steel wool and Cabot stain, which Greland said could be combustible. The Boston Fire Department has not released the results of its investigation.
Throughout the city, grand larceny, aggravated assaults, shootings, commercial and residential robbery, and homicides decreased in 2009 continuing the three-year downward trend.
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