Lack of Police Presence Creates Increase in Crime

By Kate Klinck

Tremont Drug, the store he has owned for the past 24 years, has been broken into four times, and now has bars on the windows to prevent future crimes.

“Police should put back beat cops. There is not enough outreach from cops,” said Gary Einsidler, owner of Tremont Drug.

From Sept. 21 to Sept. 28, 18 larceny crimes occurred, according to D-4 district police reports.

Officer Bill Slyne of D-4 district, which includes South End, Back Bay, Lower Roxbury and part of the Fenway area, said theft is the biggest problem.

“We don’t have the man power to get as many cops out on the streets as we’d want,” Slyne said. “The city couldn’t afford it.”

Overall, larceny has decreased in the past five years by 1014 crimes, or 36 percent, but residents say they are concerned with the recent number of incidents.

Lou Rizzo, the Claremont Neighborhood Association crime watch captain, posted a letter on SouthEnd.org,alerting his neighbors of the recent spike in break-ins and theft, and telling them what they can do about the situation.

“Crimewatch is not about patrolling with pitchforks and torches, it's simply about heightened awareness and promptly sharing information, or "preventative mobilizing," Rizzo said.

Max Pendolari, the general manager of The Wine Emporium on Tremont Street, said that the police have taken action, such as moving police headquarters from Tremont Street to Harrison Avenue in 2000, which has helped decrease crime in the new location over the past few years.

However, he also said he would like to see more of a police foot presence on Tremont Street.

Joseph Restuccia, a member of the St. Botolph Neighborhood Organization, said there are not as many beat cops patrolling now as there were three years ago, because of budget cutbacks.

Some neighborhood organizations are trying to prevent crime among youth. The Blackstone Community Center has after school programs available that include tutoring and mentoring.

“There are either three or four other community service places [that provide after school programs], but I don’t think it’s ever enough,” said Sophia Grant, the receptionist at the Blackstone Community Center. “I think they should be open later, especially on the weekends, and provide transportation to take the kids home.”