Car break-ins up 67 percent
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By George P. Hassett

Burglary rates in Somerville dropped to a 10-year-low this summer, but local thieves have found a new target – unlocked cars.

Burglaries in Somerville were down 42 percent from 132 in the summer months of 2009 to 77 this summer – the lowest number since 2000. However, larcenies from motor vehicles increased 67 percent since last year, from 110 to 184, according to statistics presented to aldermen this week.

“This was one of the quietest summers in a very long time,” said Acting Police Chief Mike Cabral. “But something has to give, car break-ins have increased, whether it’s due to the economy or drug use, people are still trying to get as much money as they can as quickly as possible.”

Cabral said most of the car break-ins were of vehicles left unlocked by their owners. “It’s hard to believe in this day and age that people don’t lock their cars,” said Alderman-at-Large Bill White.

Stolen cars decreased from 74 in summer 2008 to 46 this summer, a 38 percent drop. Thieves are more interested in car parts than a ride around the block, Cabral said. “Joyriding is not as popular as it used to be. Most of the car larcenies we investigate are done for the auto parts and we trace them back to chop shops.”

Violent crime this year was equal to last year, according to the statistics. This summer police reported five rapes, 17 robberies and 48 aggravated assaults. There were no murders.

Gang violence is down in the city due to increased directed patrols in East Somerville, Cabral said. However, members of the MS-13 and Bloods street gangs clashed twice in August, he said. “The weapon of choice for MS-13 used to be machetes, now their weapon of choice is bike chains,” he said. “The gang situation in Somerville has pretty much been contained, we really saturated East Somerville this summer and I think that made the difference.”

Cabral also addressed the rise in drug activity in Davis Square’s center plaza, Statue Park. In the summer, business owners and residents complained about drug dealing in the area, and drug-unit cops made a string of arrests for heroin and crack cocaine dealing.

Police increased directed patrols in Davis Square from three last summer to 31 this summer and instituted a walking patrol in the neighborhood, he said.

“We wanted to respond to certain characters who were showing up all of a sudden to cause trouble,” he said.