News
Allston-Brighton sees crime uptick
House breaks down, however

The Allston Civic Association (ACA) met last week in a virtual setting with about 30 residents to go over recent neighborhood issues, most notably an increase in crime in the area this past month.
D-14 District of the Boston Police Department Officer Christine Marini went over the crime stats for the neighborhood, highlighting notable instances of offenses.
The biggest issue was a shooting at the Burger King on Brighton Avenue on March 30 where one juvenile shot another in the parking lot. The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Marini said the pair were friends and the shooter turned himself in soon after.
“They got into an argument on Allston Street, one pulled out a gun and shot the other in the stomach area,” she said. “There were many witnesses, photos went out almost immediately of who he was, they were known to each other and he went out on BPDNews.com later that evening. He turned himself in within a day-and-a-half.”
Marini said house/residential break-ins are usually the neighborhood’s biggest problem, but for March, they were significantly down.
“We have two attempts and just one actual break-in but we’re not sure what was taken,” she said. “That’s very low for the last month.”
Marini said the one reported break-in attempt was on Farrington Street, and the victim was home asleep at the time.
“She woke up and noticed the side door had been kicked in, she saw part of the frame on the ground, but nothing was reported taken,” she said. “And on the 28th, on Raymond Street, we have a good example of why it’s important to talk to your neighbors about when you’re going to be out of town for a long period of time. The victim notified her neighbor that she was leaving the country for a few weeks. The neighbor came home one day and noticed his trash can had been moved over under his traveling neighbor’s balcony and noticed her balcony door ajar and saw her front door ajar, and called us right away. We’re not exactly sure what was taken but somebody had gone through.”
Marini said they had three commercial break-ins last month as well.
“All three break-ins were in a storage area, but the person who broke in is known to the manager because he used to have a unit there,” she said. “He’s going to be summonsed into court, if not a warrant issued as well.”
There was also an armed robbery at the 7/11 on Cambridge Street where the register was taken.
The most numerous issue Marini went into was that of package theft. She said residents should consider getting their packages mailed to a box at a retail store, as package theft is one of the bigger issues throughout the city.
“If you can’t be home right away, try to use CVS or Staples, they all have boxes,” she said. “They’re out there just looking to shop with your packages. We did catch one (juvenile) girl on 1525 Comm. Ave. She’s been seen on video numerous times. She had some things going on. The manager called and said they’ve got her on tape. We’re working with her mom and (Mass. Dept. of Youth Services) to help her.”
Marini also said there were several bike thefts this month, and they all had one worrying detail in common.
“They all had locks on them,” she said. “One had a Kryptonite lock behind a house on Mansfield Street on the porch, and someone came up and cut the bike lock off. Star Market had an e-bike stolen out front that had a lock. Maybe invest in more than one lock or research your locks, because they’re getting chopped off.”
One instance had two people going up and down Cambridge Street putting stickers on public property. She said this is the same as tagging or graffiti, and they were issued summons.
“It’s vandalizing it,” she said. “The officers went up to them and asked, ‘What are you doing? You’re putting them on Bluebikes, on electrical boxes and making the neighborhood look like garbage.’ They had no idea it was illegal.”
About the author
Jeff Sullivan Covers local news and community stories.

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