CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT

1996 ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

Important Facts about the 1996 Index Total:

The 1996 crime index total was the lowest recorded by the city in 36 years.

For seven out of the past 10 years, serious crime has declined in Cambridge.

In 1996, every index crime registered decreases.

Over the past 20 years, property crime has steadily decreased while crimes against the person remained at a somewhat constant level.

Since it peaked in 1990, violent crime has dropped sharply.

The 1996 "crime clock" shows an index crime every 106 minutes, a violent crime every 13.75 hours, and a property crime every two hours.

37 percent of all property crimes occur between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

51 percent of all violent crimes occur between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and midnight; 30 percent occur between 8:00 p.m. and midnight.

 

Murder:

Cambridge averaged 4.5 murders per year between 1960 and 1989.

Since 1990, that number has decreased to 2.4 per year.

Murders in Cambridge usually fall into three situational types: domestic, drug related, and homeless against homeless

Nationally, cities of 100,000 average 10 murders per year.

The single murder in 1996 involved a homeless man stabbed during a street argument.

 

Rape:

Over the past 30 years, Cambridge has averaged 33 rapes per year. In 1996, there were 34 rapes and attempted rapes reported in the city.

In an average year, the investigative unit clears 70 to 80 percent of all reported rapes.

Of the four to seven stranger to stranger rapes each year, one or two are usually street abductions, and one or two are usually home invasions.

Since 1980, there has only been one stranger-to-stranger "street" rape pattern in Cambridge: the "Rainy Day Rapist" who struck the Fresh Pond area in 1981.

 

Robbery:

Both street robbery and commercial robbery are at the lowest levels in 30 years.

Street robbery is heavily concentrated around Central Square (Area 4 and Cambridgeport).

From 1970 to 1990, Cambridge averaged 100 commercial robberies per year. Since 1991, that average has plummeted to 35 per year.

Convenience store and gas station robberies are swiftly disappearing from the scene; bank robberies are remaining level.

The Harvard Square business district accounts for 25 percent of all commercial robberies.

Burglary:

The 1994 burglary total was the lowest in over 30 years; the 1996 total was the second lowest.

In 1996, no neighborhood showed an increase in residential burglary. Cambridge Highlands became the first neighborhood this decade to have a zero residential burglary total.

Neighborhoods with a high population, such as Mid-Cambridge, North Cambridge, and Cambridgeport, have the highest levels of residential burglary. Several patterns occur in Mid-Cambridge each year.

The Porter Square business district accounted for almost 50 percent of all commercial burglary this year. Several patterns were identified along Massachusetts Avenue.

 

Larceny:

The crime of larceny accounts for 60 percent of the total crime index.

In 1996, the larceny statistic was the lowest since 1980. Directed police patrol and investigation hit larceny from motor vehicles hard.

Larcenies from buildings and larcenies from persons (pocket-picking) have been increasing. Thefts from buildings have heavily targeted laptop computers. Larcenies from persons are concentrated around commercial areas.

 

Auto Theft:

Auto theft continues to decline in Cambridge. This year's number represents the lowest total in 40 years.

With 544 thefts and attempted thefts in 1996, the auto theft rate is now a tenth of what it was in 1974.

Toyotas and Hondas are stolen more than any other cars. Thefts of Jeeps have been on the rise.

View the 1996 Index Crime Totals

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