Crime in Bolton Hill was down significantly from 2024 to 2025, but reported incidents of property crime bumped up, the chair of BHCA’s safety committee, James Prost, told the association’s January meeting.
The number of incidents of violence in the neighborhood decreased from 50 to 28, a decline of 44 percent. Violent crime in the city as a whole declined by 19 percent and violent crime in the Western Police District (which includes Bolton Hill) was down 24 percent. Violent crime includes homicide and rape, which did not occur in Bolton Hill in either year, but also robberies, aggravated assault and domestic incidents.
Year-over-year property crime in Bolton Hill increased significantly − from 162 to 118 incidents, or 37 percent. This increase was primarily a result of a double increase in burglaries, from 14 incidents to 32 incidents. Fortunately, the accused perpetrator of most of these burglaries was arrested in November and the burglaries seem to have stopped.
Property crimes in the city decreased by 8 percent but were up in the Western District. Burglaries in both the city as a whole and in the Western District were essentially flat. In addition to burglaries (which include breaking into a property), property crimes include larceny (stealing from a store, yard or auto), auto theft, and arson. A high proportion of property crimes in Bolton Hill consist of shoplifting from retail establishments such as Walgreens and Sav-A-Lot.
Violent crime declined citywide from approximately 17.9 to 14.6 incidents per 1000 people. In Bolton Hill the violent crime rate declined from 10 incidents per 1000 population to approximately 5.6 incidents per 1000.
Monthly neighborhood coordination meetings are held with the Western District on the third Tuesday each month. BHCA Safety Committee meetings are held the third Wednesday every month at 5 p.m. in the Brown Memorial Church Parish office on Park Avenue. Both are open to the public. More information from jprostmd@gmail.com .
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