Area A-1 Sees 7% Spike in Part One Crime in ‘12

Editors note: The good news as reported in last weeks Review of the 10% decrease in crime in the North End, is offset by the district wide statistics just released.

Area A-1, which includes Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown and downtown, saw an approximately 7-percent increase in violent and property crimes in 2012 from the previous year, according to Boston Police.

Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 30 of 2012, 3,088 incidents of Part One crime were reported, compared with 2,880 during the same timeframe in 2011.

The number of homicides climbed to four from one the previous year, while rapes and attempted rapes were up 20 percent as the total rose to 24 from 20 in 2011.

Larcenies and attempted robberies experienced a 9-percent increase as the number climbed to 2,319 from 2,127 the previous year.

Robberies and attempted robberies were up 4 percent, with 183 in 2012, compared to 176 in 2011.

Burglaries and attempted burglaries saw a minor surge as the total climbed to 210 from 206 the previous year.

Incidents of auto theft and attempted auto theft were also up slightly, rising to 99 from 98 in 2011.

In contrast, aggravated assaults were down 1 percent, with 249 in 2012, compared to 252 the previous year.

Citywide, Part One crime was down 5 percent as the total number of incidents dropped to 23,358 from 24,717 in 2011.