Boston Police Alert Systems Inform Public; Also Depend on their Aid

By Stephanie Rubenstein

CHINATOWN – In an effort to help inform residents of crime in their neighborhoods, web-based alert notification company has included a Google map application to their crime updates.
Citizen Observer has built the new mapping system, which will record where crimes occur.

“It’s one thing to get an email, but it is another thing to see a bunch a pins [that mark crimes] surrounding your area,” said Dan Zell, strategy director of Citizen Observer.

To receive updates, users can enter their contact information in the Citizen Observer’s database, where they will then receive emails and text messages when crimes occur.

The Boston Police Department has been using the text and email notification system for the past two years, as part of the Neighborhood Crime Watch program.

Users also have the ability to send in “crime tip” text messages, which allow them a direct real-time connection with the Boston Police Department.

“We alert the residents and have great communication with them,” said Matt Conley, police cadet for Neighborhood Crime Watch. “But, they are the ones doing a lot of the work.”

In late March, the daughter of an elderly woman in Chinatown contacted the Boston Police, after realizing her mother was a victim of a scam. A caller told her she could claim a $200,000 cash prize, if she provided specific details before receiving the money, according to a report posted by the Boston Police.

The caller spoke to the mother in Chinese, her native language, and received her social security number, as well as background information.

“You tend to believe people if they speak your language,” said Ruth Moy, Chinatown resident and founder of the Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center. “If it were in English, since many people have such limited language [skills], I don’t think they would have ever give [personal information] out.”

Overall, Chinatown is a close-knit community that tends to help out one another, said Dharmena Downey, chief operating officer of the Asian Community Development Corporation.

The Chinatown area can benefit from the Neighborhood Crime Watch program, Cadet Conley said, but due to their limited-English skills, residents may not be aware it exists.

“[We want] to make sure the message [about the program] gets out, but it’s also the community taking part,” he said.