by Roxana Boboc
A community relations police sergeant reported on North Cambridge criminal activity from June 1 to July 17 at the July 19 meeting of the North Cambridge Crime Task Force.
The report was delivered by Sgt. Kathleen M. Murphy at the Community Room of the Cornerstone Village at 175 Harvey St., said
John Serwecinski, the executive director of the NCCTF.
These meetings are a monthly event meant to keep the community informed about the emerging criminal issues and the most problematic areas in their neighborhoods, he said.
Murphy said to the attendees, there were three cases of aggravated assaults, from which one was domestic related, two incidents with drugs (one possession of marijuana), four commercial robberies, two residential burglaries (one on Porter Road, the other one on Russell Street), nine street robberies committed on motor vehicles, 14 cases of destruction of properties, operated mostly on cars, and multiple domestic disputes. The hottest targets in residential burglaries and larcenies from motor vehicles are cameras, laptops and other electronic devices, she said.
Murphy said that this type of incident occurs when people leave their doors unlocked, creating an opportunity for thieves to operate.
During the celebration of Independence Day did not raise major problems to the city police, with the exception of some firework incidents that ended without any substantial consequences, she said.
Murphy, who in addition to her work with the bike patrol team monitors the police’s graffiti hotline, she said.
Graffiti is a frustrating problem, she said. “We’ve caught some of these kids. They hang upside down the buildings, they climb the roofs.
“If you don’t look up, you can’t see them and so you can’t catch them,” she said.
As the City does its best to control the activity of these graffiti vandals, citizens can give a hand by calling the hotline at (617) 349-3300 ext. 6955 to inform authorities about graffiti.
To help property owners, the city has instituted a new program through the Public Works Department, she said. If someone calls (617) 349-4800 city workers will remove the graffiti at no charge, she said.
For more information about neighborhood crime check out the Web site at cambridgepolice.org.
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