Walking the Allston Beat

Today's MGCSS/DHBA comes from the college student capital of the east coast, the Boston neighborhood of Allston-Brighton. As you read this, be sure to keep in mind the tired, worn-out rallying cry of the gun control movement, "GUNS CAUSE CRIME". You'll see this mantra well documented (NOT) in these excerpts here from the Allston-Brighton TAB Police Logs. All the following events took place over a span of four days.

Yes, this blog continues to write itself.

The victim said the suspect threatened him saying, "I need a dollar or I will kick your butt." When he took out his wallet, the suspect grabbed it and ran off, police said. When he threw an umbrella at the suspect, he was surrounded by a group of six who threatened and harassed him, the victim said.

At about 2:15 a.m., a resident was robbed at knifepoint by two suspects, who asked him for a cigarette. After he provided one, one suspect allegedly asked him to empty his pockets and threatened him with a knife he said was in his pocket.

At about 6:57 p.m., a suspect walked behind the counter and pushed the victim into the sink area and allegedly held him by the throat.

While walking from Union Square, the victim was suddenly grabbed from behind, asked for her pocketbook and thrown on ground by two unknown suspects. They also hit her 3-year-old son.

What's the common thread here (as if I have to ask)? Surprisingly, NOT ONE SCARY GUN was involved, yet every victim was forced to rely on the mercy of his or her violent attacker for their physical safety and well-being. Does that sound like a acceptable arrangement to you? For some reason, it sounds just fine to the local politicos responsible for our state's onerous gun control laws.

But, where were the police when all these assaults were taking place, you ask. Good question.

Stolen cars, break-ins and suspicious activity in her neighborhood is making one Bigelow Street resident very nervous. Call 911, said police.

According to Mary Johansen, the Bigelow Street area has seen five house break-ins, four stolen cars and some suspicious activity in the last six months.

Her family had their brand-new GMC truck stolen. Another resident watched a man take out the stereo from his car and run off.

Residents have filed police reports and Johansen has e-mailed the Boston Police Department, to no avail.

"We have a lot of elderly people in this neighborhood and absolutely no police cruisers driving by our homes," said Johansen, a Bigelow Street resident for 38 years.

"To my knowledge, no one's called me on this," said Sgt. Bill Fogerty at the District 14 police station. He said he is not sure what crimes she is referring to, but plans to make sure patrolling officers check out the area.

Not sure what crimes she's referring to? Do you ever read your own police logs, Sergeant?

Welcome to Boston - The City That Doesn't Sleep Wake Up.

The money quote:

Fogerty said it is hard to respond to crimes which happened a long time ago, and asked residents to contact the police immediately and not wait to file reports in such cases.

Um, it's hard, if not downright impossible for the police to effectively respond to crimes which happened three minutes ago. Sure, they can show up, "take your statement", and then "file a report". They're quite good at that. Don't think that it'll help get your wallet back any quicker, or make your hospital stay that much more enjoyable.

And how long, exactly, should someone wait before reporting a crime. Is it asking to much to expect someone to wait until they're out of danger before doing so.

"Well, excuse me, Mr. Crackhead, but you can have my cell phone as soon as I'm done calling the police with it. So, quit your yelling, be patient and put the knife away. You could poke someone's eye out with that thing."

For more news from the crime-free paradise of Allston, see this post from earlier this spring.

And 50 bonus points for whoever gets the title reference above.