On the morning of June 5th, at a public safety meeting in Boston’s Chinatown held at the Double Tree Hotel, Suffolk County Prosecutor Kevin Hayden discussed the situation regarding theft crimes in Boston and efforts to rehabilitate drug-addicted homeless individuals.
During the meeting, Boston Police Officer Frank Wong talked about some incidents that occurred in Chinatown in May, including two theft-related cases. Around 5:30 pm on May 9th, a suspect stole scratch-off lottery tickets from a convenience store on Harrison Street. On May 23rd, officers observed a person selling stolen goods on the streets of Chinatown, including scallops, fresh shrimp, and steaks, leading to the arrest of the suspect.
Regarding theft cases, Hayden mentioned that since the 1990s when he started working at the District Attorney’s Office, he had witnessed a continuous stream of theft and fencing cases. “Because there is a market for it,” he said.
Hayden stated that theft cases occur in various areas of Boston, including downtown and Newbury Street, especially with repeat offenders stealing goods from different retail stores and selling them in multiple locations within the city.
To address these issues, law enforcement officials and prosecutors are collaborating closely with the Retailers Association and individual retailers, aiming to combat theft activities citywide. Hayden emphasized the importance of “stay away orders,” where the court issues restraining orders against habitual offenders, prohibiting them from approaching specific commercial areas, and taking arrest and legal actions if they violate the orders.
Officer Frank Wong’s report also mentioned a shooting incident that occurred at 2:45 am on June 1st. Six shell casings were found on Edinboro Street, but fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. Through surveillance footage, the police discovered that the incident was related to a dispute on the road and obtained the license plate information of the vehicle involved.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Prosecutor Hayden highlighted the importance of providing shelters for the homeless and offering drug rehabilitation services. “Just locking them up is not useful. Sending them to court and releasing them only results in a cycle of addiction,” Hayden stated.
Since Boston cleared out the tents of homeless individuals from “Methadone Mile” and relocated them to temporary housing, some individuals still engage in drug use, while others have dispersed to other towns. Hayden humorously shared an instance where a prosecutor from another area complained to him, saying, “Those people have returned to our area.”
He introduced a program that substitutes services for punishment, aiming to help homeless individuals struggling with drug addiction through rehabilitation services rather than simply incarcerating them.
Hayden also shared a success story of a woman who was homeless on Methadone Mile and nearly died from a drug overdose. With access to rehabilitation services and stable housing, she settled in East Boston and did not return to Methadone Mile. “We need more success stories like this,” Hayden emphasized.
Hayden stressed that merely clearing problematic areas is not enough; continuous support and services must be provided to ensure that addicts can truly overcome their struggles and avoid falling back into previous trouble areas.
He also mentioned that if the Long Island detox center were to reopen in the future, it would greatly improve the situation. “It will happen someday, but not in the near future,” he remarked.