CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT

1996 ANNUAL REPORT

OTHER PART II CRIMES

What follows is a brief synopsis of other crimes classified as "Part II Crimes" by the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting System. The relative infrequency of patterns among these crimes discourages detailed analysis. Only crimes which registered ten or more incidents in 1996 are included.

Malicious Destruction of Property • 885 in 1995 • 852 in 1996 • Down 3.7%

This crime includes tire-slashing, window-smashing, spray-painting, and myriad other crimes in which someone's property is willfully and maliciously damaged or destroyed. By far, most malicious destruction involves destruction to automobiles; most of these occur overnight to cars parked on the street. Gangs of juveniles are often responsible for a score of such crimes on a single evening; an East Cambridge pattern in 1996 is one example. Often, malicious destruction is simply an auto theft or larceny from a motor vehicle that was never carried to its conclusion, leaving a window smashed or a door lock popped. Other common malicious destruction crimes involve graffiti, bricks thrown through windows, and damage to household items during domestic disputes. Geographically, malicious destruction reaches its greatest totals in neighborhoods with large numbers of residents and, consequently, cars: Mid-Cambridge, Peabody, North Cambridge, and Area 4.

Hit & Run • 571 in 1995 • 679 in 1996 • Up 18.9%

A hit and run crime occurs when a driver strikes a person, another car, or someone else's property, causing damage, and leaves without identifying himself to the victim. Five or six percent of all hit and run crimes involve personal injury. The vast majority of the remainder involve damage to motor vehicles; most of these occur overnight at a time undetermined by the victim.

Simple Assault • 594 in 1995 • 584 in 1996 • Down 1.7%

Simple assaults, unlike aggravated assaults, are not scored in the Part I Crimes. Simple assaults do not involve the use of a dangerous weapon (including shoes) and are not intended to cause serious injury. Examples of simple assault include a shove, a punch in the stomach, or a slap in the face. Between 40 and 50 percent of simple assaults are domestic in nature; others include bar fights, traffic and parking assaults, juvenile "playground" fights, and episodes between the homeless. Because serious injury does not result from simple assaults, a high percentage are probably never reported.

Threats to Commit a Crime • 457 in 1995 • 447 in 1996 • Down 2.2%

A self-explanatory crime that often arises in domestic disputes, arguments between acquaintances or co-workers, school fights, and other environments.

Traffic Arrests • 369 in 1995 • 380 in 1996 • Up 3.0%

The average traffic stop for speeding, running a red light, and related offenses, results in only a warning or citation. A number of traffic offenses, however, are arrestable crimes: driving to endanger, driving after suspension or revocation, possession of counterfeit inspection sticker, and attaching false or counterfeit license plates are all examples. Such arrests are often made during routine traffic stops, after the police officer learns of the driver's suspension, revocation, or other circumstance.

Harassing or Obscene Phone Calls • 446 in 1995 • 296 in 1996 • Down 33.6%

Many incidents of harassing or obscene telephone calls are never reported; hang-ups are quite frequent occurrences. The crime is usually reported when the problem is continual. In such circumstances, the victim often knows the caller. In many instances, the caller is an ex-partner of the victim's, and is violating a restraining order by calling. Detectives investigate harassing or obscene phone calls with the help of the local telephone company.

Drinking in Public / Disorderly • 154 in 1995 • 89 in 1996 • Down 42.2%

Most of these incidents occur on Friday and Saturday nights. Examples include bar and restaurant altercations, domestic disputes, arguments between the homeless, and conflicts with police officers that escalate into shouting, profanity, and threats. Police make arrests for this crime when a subject disrupts the peace enough to pose a danger. Many disorderly person situations are assaults in the making that are halted through the quick intervention of a police officer.

Operating Under the Influence • 73 in 1995 • 70 in 1996 • Down 4.1%

Attacks on all fronts have reduced this crime nationwide, but every incident still poses a deadly danger. Well over half of all O.U.I. arrests occur between midnight and 4:00 a.m., as people drive home from bars. The majority of the incidents are concentrated on the weekend.

Indecent Exposure • 36 in 1995 • 28 in 1996 • Down 22.2%

Indecent exposure incidents are spread across the city; some occur in public areas, where the offender intends to be seen; others involve such things as nude sunbathing or indiscretion in front of an open window.

Weapons Violations • 26 in 1995 • 20 in 1996 • Down 23.1%

Weapons violations involve the illegal possession or use of a dangerous weapon. Such use is not directed at a particular person; otherwise, the incident would be recorded as an aggravated assault. In 1995, nine weapons violations involved guns, 17 involved other weapons such as knives and throwing stars. In 1996, the breakdown came to 10 each. Gun violations sometimes include shots heard or bullet holes found, with no suspect seen. Usually, however, weapons violation arrests derive from motor vehicle stops or arrests for lesser crimes (such as disorderly person or trespassing), during which the illegal weapon is discovered by the officer. Historically, areas with high street robbery levels such as Cambridgeport and Area 4 have had the largest number of arrests for weapons violations.

Peeping and Spying • 17 in 1995 • 13 in 1996 • Down 23.5%

Peeping and spying offenders generally peer through windows of a house or apartment. Mid-Cambridge had a high concentration in 1995, but in 1996, incidents were more evenly spread throughout the city. The majority of these offenses occur between 8:00 p.m. and midnight.

Prostitution • 11 in 1995 • 14 in 1996 • Up 3.7%

Like narcotics offenses, the crime of prostitution is investigated by the Vice/Narcotics Unit, which sets up seasonal "stings." Most prostitution in Cambridge occurs in buildings; solicitations are made through personal ads or through a network of acquaintances. There is comparatively little "streetwalking" in the city of Cambridge.

Back to the 1996 Annual Report Index

Back to the CPD Home Page