Some city officials and local business owners say yes.
Local business owners and elected officials are raising concerns about an apparent uptick in crime in and around Boston Common.
Police data reaffirms at least some of these fears, showing at least somewhat of an increase in total crime in the area in comparison to recent years.
There were 113 total violent crimes reported in the Boston Common, Downtown Crossing, and the Public Garden through Sept. 17 of 2019, compared to 136 during that time period in 2024, according to Boston Police Department data shared with Boston.com. Total property crime went from 487 through Sept. 17 in 2019 to 532 through that date this year.
Boston Common Area Crime Data
Crime Category201920202021202220232024
Homicide001120
Rape & Attempted505213
Robbery344573454861
Aggravated Assault748061746572
Commercial Burglary12501062633
Residential Burglary333042
Larceny From MV284832232319
Other Larceny427263344410467467
Auto Theft171227282611
Total Violent Crime113125140122116136