When possible avoid walking alone, especially at night. Your vulnerability to street crime is reduced as much as 70 percent by simply being in a group.

Before exiting the train station, put your keys in your hand or keep them in your pocket.

Keep a safety whistle on your key chain to scare away a potential criminal and summon help.

Carry a cell phone.  This is the fastest way to get help in an emergency.

Walk with confidence, be aware of you surroundings and avoid bushes and poorly lit areas.

If walking alone, walk in the street as opposed to the sidewalk, or walk as close as possible to the curb.  

If you are forced into a physical confrontation, remember blow your whistle, scream or do whatever is necessary to draw attention to yourself.  Scream “Fire,” “Help.”    

If you are being followed, stay in a well lit area, seek safety in a public place and call 911 for help. Give the operator your location quickly so they can help you as fast as possible.

Carry a little flashlight to use when walking in dark places.

Consider taking a taxi or asking a friend for a ride if it’s late at night.

Avoid dark alleys, short cuts and vacant lots, particularly at night.

Don’t wear headphones or talk on your cell phone when walking or jogging alone.

Use a purse with a zipper or a flap that fastens, and carry it close to your body on inside your jacket.

Trust your instincts. If you see someone that makes you uncomfortable, try to walk away and get help or call the police. If you are unable to run, consider walking up a nearby set of steps, and repeatedly ringing the doorbell, regardless of the time of night. The residents can call the police for you, and the person following you will likely run away.

Always report suspicious people and any crimes by calling the police at 911. No call is too small. Read more about safety here

• Front Desk (617) 343-4250
• Drug Control Unit (617) 343-4822
• Detectives (617) 343-5619
• Auto Investigations (617) 343-4293
• Property Clerk (617) 343-4250
• Youth Service Office (617) 343-4457
• Anti-Crime (617) 343-5375
• Details Room (617) 343-4210
• Domestic Violence (617) 343-4811
• Tag Room (617) 343-4582
• Community Service (617) 343-4457

August 19, 2010 04:18 PM

As the start of the school year nears, law enforcement officials are warning residents to be mindful of their surroundings at night on the Charles River Esplanade in light of a series of unsolved sexual assaults in that area.

A joint statement by Boston police and State Police and Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley warns joggers, cyclists, pedestrians and others to travel in groups if they visit the Esplanade at night. Specifically, they warn people to avoid one-on-one contact with strangers, to not get into a stranger’s car, and to be mindful of what’s around them.

The warning comes while police continue to search for the suspect in a series of attacks on the Esplanade that date back to 2006.

Follow the link for a composite image of the suspect and more information.  -ed

Accused ‘Craigslist killer’ Philip Markoff commits suicide in Boston jail
By June Q. Wu, Globe Correspondent – August 15, 2010 03:15 PM

Accused “Craigslist Killer” Philip Markoff committed suicide at Nashua Street Jail in Boston, where he was being held awaiting trial in the slaying of Julissa Brisman, 25, who was visiting from New York, according to Steven Tompkins, spokesman for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office.

Markoff, 24, was pronounced dead at 10:17 this morning. While authorities are still investigating, Markoff was alone in his cell and all evidence collected so far indicates that it was a suicide, said a statement released by Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis and Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley.

Authorities have said that Markoff shot Brisman, who was visiting Boston from New York, three times with a handgun on April 14, 2009 after they struggled in the doorway of her room on the 20th floor of the Marriott Copley in Boston. A bullet pierced her heart. Prosecutors said Markoff also battered her head.

[Philip Markoff lived in the West Fenway when the crime was committed. - ed]

BREAKING AND ENTERING ON HEMENWAY
Police reported a breaking and entering at 38 Hemenway St. on Feb. 25. According to the reports, an unidentified person(s) broke into the apartment through the side door entrance between 4:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. The door’s locking mechanism was damaged and paint and wood chips were found on the floor, suggesting a forced entry. All four of the resident were not home so no one was hurt however $1,440 worth of property was stolen.

MAN ARRESTED FOR LARCENY
On Feb. 27 police responded to a call at 5:04 p.m. for larceny in progress at the corner of Boylston Street and Massachusetts Avenue. Upon arrival police observed a man walking into Tedeschi’s Convenience, pointing to the suspect inside the store.

According to the victim, the suspect flagged down his cab and opened the rear passenger door of his cab to ask if he took credit or debit cards. The suspect then picked up an unknown object from the seat, closed the door and walked away with a wallet in his hand. The cab driver saw the man removing money from the wallet and exited the vehicle to demand that he return the money that he said belonged to the previous passenger. When the suspect refused to return the money the cab driver followed him and pushed him to the ground.

Police spoke with a Tedeschi Convenience employee who confirmed this story. They then conducted a pat frisk on the suspect and felt a small stack of money in his pocket. When the victim was unable to identify how much money he had, he was placed under arrest for larceny over $250. Officers found a total of $610 on the man. The owner of the wallet was located and police returned the money to him.

MORE BREAKING AND ENTERING ON HEMENWAY
An apartment at 26 Hemenway St. was broken into on Feb. 22 between 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. One of the victims said he found muddy footprints on his bed near an unlocked window. The victims believe this to be the entrance point for the intruder. An Apple computer valued at $1,500 was the only item stolen from the apartment.

STUDENT CAUSES MAJOR DISRUPTION AT MCKINLEY
On Feb. 22, an officer assigned to McKinley Prep High School was called to address a physical altercation between two students that resulted from one student making an unnecessary comment about the other. The student who made the comment was removed from the classroom and sent to the planning center.

While in the planning center, the student became more agitated and began to scream at staff members. He began yelling profane language at the officer who asked him to correct his behavior. The student was asked to stay in the planning center however repeatedly attempted to leave. His behavior escalated to the point where he was issued a suspension and instructed to leave the building immediately.

The student continued to yell at the officer and refused to exit the building. His disorderly behavior caused students to stop and watch. The officer informed the student if he did not leave it would be considered trespassing. The student eventually left on his own terms and will be summoned to court for trespassing.

STUDENTS COMPUTER STOLEN AT MFA
A student reported his computer was stolen out of his backpack while visiting the MFA on Feb. 25. The victim said his computer was inside his backpack and kept in a blue bin in an unlocked side room inside the museum. He did not notice the computer missing until he returned to his dorm room. The computer is valued at $1,500.

PERSON ARRESTED FOR UNLICENSED FIREARM
On Feb. 27, police along with the assistance of a State Trooper placed a suspect under arrest for underage drinking, drinking in public, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm, and using another person’s identification card to purchase alcohol.

Police first approached the suspect when he exited the Who’s On First nightclub (19 Yawkey Way) with a beer bottle in hand. The suspect was informed of the violation of Drinking Alcoholic Beverage in Public. When an officer removed the bottle from his hand, the suspect placed both hands towards his waistband. Worried for their safety, police put the suspect in handcuffs and conducted a pat frisk in which they found a loaded Colt 25 caliber.

The suspect was not of legal age to drink alcoholic beverages or posses a license to carry a firearm. The suspect was arrested and will be charged as an Armed Career Criminal Level 1 based on a prior guilty conviction of assault and battery.

Police also arrested two other individuals who repeatedly disrupted them as they tried to gain control of the scene. While being booked, an officer found marijuana in one of the suspect’s pockets as well as a Massachusetts ID that did not match his identity. The suspect was issued a violation for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana.

LARCENY AT HI BOSTON HOSTEL
On Feb. 16, a woman reported her wallet stolen from her bag while staying at the Hi Boston Hostel at 12 Hemenway St. The property and its contents were valued at $500.

WALLET STOLEN AT DUNKIN DONUTS ON HUNTINGTON
On Feb. 15, a woman reported her wallet stolen out of her backpack while she was sitting at a Dunkin Donuts located at 283 Huntington Ave. The missing wallet and its contents were valued at $710.

AUTO THEFT ON PETERBOROUGH
On Feb. 17 at about 8:31 p.m. a woman reported her vehicle stolen. According to the victim, the car was parked at 36 Peterborough St. at 1 p.m. and was gone when she returned at 6:30 p.m. Police notified the stolen car unit and the next day found the car parked at 60 Queensbury St. The victim said she did not remember if she forgot where she parked the vehicle or if someone moved it without her permission. Two days later police spoke with the victim again who confirmed that the car was never stolen. She said her friend moved the car and it was all just a case of miscommunication.

UNARMED ROBBERY ON PARK DRIVE
On Feb. 15, a woman reported she was robbed while walking on Park Drive. According to the victim, at about 7 p.m. she approached 223 Park Drive when she saw two males walking toward her in opposite directions. As they passed her she said they pulled her onto the grass near the building and forcefully took her Iphone. According to police reports the incident is under further investigation.

On Feb. 10, police reported a black Honda sedan parked at the corner of Parker Street and Huntington Avenue was broken into. According to the incident report, the victim parked the vehicle at about 5:30 p.m. the previous evening and returned the next morning to find the front passenger-side window smashed. An iPod Nano valued at $300 was the only item reported missing.

ASSAULT REPORTED AT STORE ON HAVILAND STREET

On Feb. 13, police responded to an assault and battery call at Buried Treasures, located at 28 Haviland St. The victim said the store clerk pushed him out of the store causing him to hit his head against a hard object. The clerk told police he asked the victim and his friends to leave the store because some were under the age of 18 and many were acting disrespectful. According to the store employee, when the group refused to leave, the victim put his hands on him and that is why he pushed him out of the store. No medical attention was needed and police advised both parties to stay away from each other.

WOMAN IN CAR ACCIDENT FLEES SCENE

While police monitored a motor vehicle accident at 150 Brookline Ave. on Feb. 11, a witness advised the officers that an elderly female driving a Volvo hit several of the vehicles and then left the area. Later that day an officer spotted the Volvo at the intersection of Newbury and Clarendon Streets; the car had considerable rear end damage. The officer stopped the vehicle and advised the woman that she was being stopped in regards to a car accident at 150 Brookline Ave. The woman said she did not remember being in any car accident. When she exited the vehicle to look at the damages she said there was something wrong with the vehicle’s brakes and that she could not control the car. The officer then drove the woman’s car to her home and parked it in her garage. Witnesses to the accident told officers they felt the woman was confused and unfit to drive.  The officer requested a competency road test examination for the woman.

DISPUTE OVER CAB FARE TURNS INTO ASSAULT

Top Cab vehicle #1825 picked up a man and his girlfriend at 890 Boylston St. on Feb. 14 at about 2:23 p.m. Arriving at 120 Hemenway St., the couple attempted to pay the cab fare using a credit card however the machine was unable to read the card. When the cab driver asked to use the card on his machine in the front of the cab the couple refused.

According to the victims, the driver began to drive at a high speed, causing the man to hit his head on the partition. Fearing for their safety, the victims said they attempted to exit the vehicle but were unable to do so because the driver locked the doors. The male victims then reached through the petition, grabbed the driver’s shirt causing it to rip and eventually the cab stopped the car and called the police.

According to the driver, after both victims refused to pay with their credit cards at the front machine of the vehicle, the male victim reached through the petition and grabbed his shirt and neck.  The disputed $8.90 cab fare was not paid at the time of the police report.

MAN ATTACKED AND ROBBED ON FENWAY FOOTBRIDGE

On Feb. 8 at about 8:33 p.m., a male victim was attacked and robbed by two men (Both males, one wearing a brown hoodie, the other a black hoodie) while walking over the footbridge on the Fenway. The victim said the men stuck a sharp object in his back, removed and broke his eyeglasses, and continued to beat him while he lay on the ground. The attackers took the victim’s cell phone, credit card and $20.

Later that evening, officers conducted a search of the area. At about 8:50 p.m. saw a suspect sitting in the Burger King at 289 Huntington Ave. The officer saw the suspect enter the bathroom at which time he called for assistance. Approximately 15 minutes later, a Burger King employee opened the bathroom door and police found the suspect fully clothed, sitting down. The victim positively identified the suspect as one of the attackers and he was placed under arrest.

Police further searched the area for the second attacker; no other arrests were made.

LARCENY ON BROOKLINE AVENUE
On Feb. 2, police responded to a larceny report at 180 Brookline Ave. Police spoke with a building resident who said at about 3 a.m. three unknown suspects entered the building and stole a 52-inch Sony television — valued at $4,000 — from the second floor common area. The building’s security cameras recorded two suspects carrying the television and walking towards the building’s Boylston Street exit. Security cameras captured no facial images but the witness said he believes one of the suspects is a former employee already under investigation for a previous incident in the building.

MAN FOUND DEAD IN PARK DRIVE APARTMENT
Police responded to a radio call for a well-being check at 223 Park Drive at 6:25 p.m. on Feb. 5. Upon arrival, Officer McManus knocked on the apartment door but received no response. Officers then used force to gain entry to the apartment where they discovered the resident (70-year-old, white, male) lying unresponsively on his bedroom floor. The Health and Hospitals Ambulance pronounced the victim dead at 7:04 p.m. Police reports did not mention a cause of death.

NOISE DISPUTE RESULTS IN THREATS BETWEEN NEIGHBORS
On Feb. 6, police responded to a threat report at 400 Huntington Ave. Police spoke with the caller and her daughter who said the tenants living directly above them threatened to kill them. The victims said they have a history of disputes with the accused tenants because of the constant noise and partying that goes on. One of the victims said she knocked on the tenants’ door a couple weeks earlier and asked them to quiet down or she would call the police. She also reported that some of the people she saw in the apartment that night were also the ones outside her door, yelling threats on the night of the incident in question.  The victim reported seeing a male through the peep-hole of her apartment door and heard him say “We should just kill them.”
Officers spoke to a female tenant of the accused apartment, who said she lives with all females. She said the males in question are friends of her roommates. Police advised her to keep the noise levels down and to speak to her roommates about courteous behavior for their guests.

BREAKING AND ENTERING AT TERIYAKI HOUSE
On Jan. 8 at about 10:30 a.m., police responded to a radio call from a Teriyaki House employee. The witness said upon arriving to work around 10 a.m., he saw that the restaurant was broken into and robbed.

The witness said the cash register holding approximately $900-$1000 was emptied. According to the witness nothing else was missing. Police recorded no visible damage to either the front or side door. However, the witness said the owner might have left the side door open when closing the restaurant the night before.

The restaurant’s side door opens out to a common hallway shared with Boston Conservatory. An officer spoke with a Longwood Security Officer who said the only people who have access to the hallway are employees and students of Boston Conservatory. D-4 detectives were notified and security footage will be made available.

SHAWS EMPLOYEE ARRESTED LARCENY
On Jan. 18 police received a radio call for an employee being held for larceny at the Shaws Supermarket located at 33 Kilmarnock Street. When police arrived a witness said he saw the suspect on a store surveillance camera, “suspending” a transaction and placing $30 into her uniform apron. The witness said the cashier then used the money to purchase a pack of cigarettes and a prepaid phone card.

When confronted, the employee confessed to taking the money. She also admitted to taking approximately $40 every shift she has worked over the past year through a combination of “voided” and “suspended” transactions while cashiering. The store reported that to be about $11,520 in total.

The employee signed an admission of her actions. She told officers she was taking the money and giving it to her mother to help her buy a house. The employee was placed under arrest for larceny and transported to District C-8 for booking.

DISTURBANCE OF THE PEACE ON GAINSBOROUGH STREET
On Jan. 22 at approximately 12:25 a.m., a Northeastern University Police Officer was flagged down in front of 52 Gainsborough St. by the staff of “Our House East” bar. They said a black college age male, had started a fight in the bar and because of this was removed from the premises. Once outside the bar, the man preceded to throw a large sign and a stand up ash try on the ground. Afterwards he walked away screaming and yelling.

NUPD encountered the man and told him the bar’s management did not want him to return tonight. Police said it was evident that he was extremely intoxicated. He started to yell at the police officer stating that he was only being stopped because he was black. He was clinching his fists and police had to tell him several times to keep his hands out of his pockets.
Police told the man to go home to which he responded “no,” and began following the officers, yelling to them that he would not go home. Police asked him again to leave the area.

At this time a female exited the bar and attempted to get him to leave but he began yelling at her as well. Police told him to leave a third time and he refused. Because the situation was causing cars to stop and people to gather and watch, the man was placed under arrest for disorderly person

He was transported to Boston Police Area D4 for booking. While en route to the station he began to hit his head on the plastic cage and while in the booking area he started punching himself in the face. No visible injuries were caused.

TROUBLE ON EDGERLY ROAD
On Jan. 4, police received a call from a woman who said two unknown individuals threatened her over a parking space on Edgerly Road. The victim said as she drove down the road looking for a parking spot she noticed a car without a resident parking sticker and asked if they could move their vehicle. The victim said they refused to move and when she asked them again they started screaming at her. She said they were yelling profanities and stated, “You will see.” The victim described the pair as a Caucasian male and female, 18-20 years old. The male is about 5’10”, thin build and brown hair while the female is about 5’5”, thin and also with brown hair.

ASSAULT & BATTERY CHARGES AT MCKINLEY PREP HIGH SCHOOL
About 12:55 p.m. on Jan. 4, a police officer was escorting a prisoner to a BPD cruiser when he heard and observed a student yelling and getting out of control. The student (White-Hispanic male, about 5’5”, weighing approximately180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes) then pushed and punched two teachers. In fear of anyone else being battered in attempts to restore the peace, a police officer attempted to place the student under arrest. After a brief struggle, the officer was able to safely place the student under arrest. The student was charged with two counts of A&B and Disturbing a  School Assembly.

COMPUTER STOLEN ON HEMENWAY STREET
On Jan. 20, police responded to a radio call for a breaking and entering report at 165 Hemenway St. Police spoke to the victim’s who said when they returned home they discovered their laptop computer was missing from their kitchen table. The victim’s said they noticed the window next to the kitchen table was open. Security bars were on the window however suspect(s) could have easily reached inside and snatched the computer. D-4 detectives will further investigate the matter.

IPOD STOLEN FROM CAR ON BROOKLINE AVENUE
A woman reported that her car (a black, 1999 Honda CRV-station wagon) was broken into while it was parked in an alley near 160 Brookline Avenue. The victim discovered the small window on the passenger side had been smashed and her IPod Nano was taken from the glove department.

STUDENT ROBBED ON HEMENWAY
On Jan. 25 at approximately 5:30 p.m., while walking down Hemenway Street a student (Male, 19 years of age) was approached by five white males. According to the victim, the unknown persons surrounded him and demanded he hand over his money and watch. The victim described one of the persons as being 5’10”, in his early twenties, with facial hair on his chin and dressed in a black hoodie and puffy coat. The victim handed over $240 and a Marc Echo watch valued at $200. According to the victim, no weapon was present during the incident. After receiving the money and watch the suspects ran toward the Fens.

ROBBERY AT KNIFE POINT ON WESTLAND
On Jan. 26 a student was robbed at knifepoint while walking near 8 Westland Avenue at approximately 7:30 p.m. The victim described the suspect as a 6’2” black male, weighing around 200 pounds, and wearing a black hoodie, baggy blue jeans and white footwear. While holding a folding knife measuring about 7” long, the suspect demanded the victim give him whatever money he had. The victim handed over $40, after which the suspect continued to flee towards Massachusetts Avenue.

ASSAULT & BATTERY AT 80 FENWAY
On Jan. 29 police responded to an assault and battery report at 80 Fenway at about 10 p.m. Upon arrival they spoke with the victim who said he was attacked by three men. The victim said he met the suspects earlier at the Mass Ave T Station and “hung out and smoked weed” with them. Afterwards the victim and suspects walked around the Fenway area, stopping at 80 Fenway to get shelter from the cold. According to the victim it was then that the suspects “jumped” him. The victim said he was able to fought off the three suspects until he accidentally punched in a glass window at the front entrance of the building, causing the suspects to flee. The victim suffered only minor injuries and according to police reports the incident is under further investigation.

LARCENY AT HOTEL INTERNATIONAL
On Jan. 26 at about 11:45 a.m., a guest at the Hotel International at 12 Hemenway St. discovered his wallet was stolen from his room. The contents of the wallet were valued at about $300.

FIGHT ENSUES OUTSIDE OUR HOUSE BAR ON GAINSBOROUGH
At about 3:46 a.m. on Jan. 29, police responded to an assault and battery report at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Police spoke with two victims who said they were beaten outside Our House Bar at 52 Gainsborough St. after requesting that the manager call the police in regards to their stolen jackets. The manager told the victims the stolen property was not his responsibility and refused to call the police. The victims were then escorted out of the bar where words were exchanged and a fight ensued.
According to the victims they were punched and kicked repeatedly. One of the victims recalled being hit across the face by what he thinks to be baseball bat. He says he also saw his brother get struck on the head with a bottle. One of the victims was found with a large lump in the middle of his forehead while the other suffered severe swelling across the right side of his face along with various cuts on his face. The victims could not describe the assailants but said they believed them to be bar employees.

AUTO THEFT OUTSIDE HOUSE OF BLUES
On Feb. 1, a woman reported her car, parked at 1 Yawkey Way, stolen. The victim stated she parked and locked the vehicle at about 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 31. She then attended a concert at the House of Blues and upon returning from the show found her car missing. The victim and her friend took a cab to the nearest police station where police notified the stolen vehicle unit.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT AT FORSYTH AND HUNTINGTON
On Jan. 26 at 2:28 p.m. Boston Police and Fire responded to a motor vehicle accident report at Forsyth Way and Huntington Avenue in which two cars were involved in a minor rear-end collision. One of the car operators said she was unaware that she hit the other car until the other operator got out of her vehicle and began yelling. She also stated the other two passengers in the hit vehicle exited the car and began threatening her. Police spoke with said passengers who denied such claims and said the car operator refused to exchange information and that they believed she was thinking of leaving the area. According to police reports, no visible damage to either vehicle resulted from the accident and all parties involved agreed. The operator of the hit vehicle said she was two months pregnant and was transferred to Beth Israel Hospital with abdominal pain. The other driver suffered no injuries.

Councilor Turner released the following message to his supporters:

November 4, 2009

Dear Supporters,

I am thrilled to have won such a landslide victory in yesterday’s
District 7 City Council race. I view this victory not only as a
mandate to continue my leadership as Councilor but also to continue my
fight to prove that former US Attorney Sullivan tried to publicly
humiliate and jail me despite his knowledge that I am innocent.

Now that my continuation as the District 7 Councilor is assured, I
will focus my attention on disposing of the government’s bogus case.
As long as the question of my guilt or innocence is unresolved, I will
not be able to serve as a Chair of any Council Committee based on a
ruling by the Council President. Thus to eliminate this impediment to
my service I have directed my lead lawyer, Barry P Wilson, to prepare
a motion to dismiss the charges.

I have also instructed him to take whatever steps necessary to secure
the “so called evidence” that the government claims to have. I
continue to believe that the government’s demand that I give up my
freedom of speech in order to receive “their evidence” is an
outrageous denial of justice. However, my lawyers advise me that their
ability to see the “evidence” strengthens their ability to prove
former US Attorney Sullivan joined the historic pattern of government
persecution of black elected officials by basing his case on his
political desires not on the pursuit of justice.

Since receipt of the “evidence” will limit my ability to discuss the
particulars of the case, I will focus my discussion in the court of
public opinion on US Attorney Sullivan –his history, his objectives,
and his relationship to the press. It is amazing that the Boston media
has focused so little attention on former US Attorney John Ashcroft’s
bankrolling Sullivan’s future despite the profile of Sullivan as a
weak, somewhat inept US Atty.

In closing, let me thank all of you who supported me during the
darkest moment of my life. Without your support, I would not have
survived the early assaults and certainly would not have had the
strength and courage to persevere despite the odds and the attacks. I
am truly indebted to you all. Let me end by publicly thanking Terri,
my wife, for her love and faith which has served as a shield against
the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

Sincerely,
chuck