Crime statistics

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend and I are looking to move, and have found at least one place that we really like, but we're a little unsure about the neighborhood. It's not in the Davis area, but I was wondering if anyone on this community might know the best way to get detailed crime statistics for a neighborhood in Somerville. The police web page didn't have any obvious way of doing that. Should I just call the police department directly? Or is this a records office thing? Is this even something I could easily get? I have two years of general crime statistics as broken down by ward, but I'd like to get a more detailed focus on a specific area if possible.

Comments

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Your boyfriend is honestly worried about a neighborhood in Somerville?

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Yes, call the police department and I'm sure they'll be happy to provide you with the information you desire.

Considering our general crime statistics, though, I really can't see what it'd pretty provide you with. Somerville is not very high-crime, comparatively.

[grateful1311.livejournal.com]

An easier way to get a sense of what a neighborhood is like is to ask someone FROM that neighborhood =)

[fantastic-salad.livejournal.com]

"The police web page didn't have any obvious way of doing that"
Except for those crime (http://www.somervillema.gov/CoS_Content/documents/REP123106.pdf) map (http://www.somervillema.gov/CoS_Content/documents/CrimeReportMap120805.pdf) links on the police department main page.

[ron_newman]

Telling us which neighborhood (even if it isn't near Davis) would help.

[mistresshellena.livejournal.com]

hey there,

I am looking for tenants for my place starting Sept 1. It's on a lovely street in Teele. I'm a friend of Pir's (and nepenthe) and have met you on a couple of occasions at his place.

You can get my email address from one of them (definitely pir) and I can tell you more if you think you'd be interested.

[turil.livejournal.com]

Police reports are fairly innacurate, as many people choose not to report criminal activity for a variety of reasons (police being annoying to deal with, too much trouble for very little reward, threats of retaliation, not really caring/depression, etc.)

A good way to assess an area is to check out how many people take care of their front yards and/or hang out in them. The more people are outside their houses, in their yards puttering or sitting on the porch, the safer an area will be, and the more community spirit there is likely to be. Also, studies have shown that the less car traffic there is, the healthier the neighborhood is, since people are more likely to wander around and get to know their neighbors casually if the street moves at a more pedestrian speed.