To report an emergency on the Boston College campus, call 51²è¹Ý police 617-552-4444 (or 2-4444 from a campus phone).
To report an emergency outside the Boston College campus, dial 911 from any available telephone.
Safety in Boston
Although not as intimidating as New York orÌýLos Angeles,ÌýBoston is by no means a place where people leave their doors unlocked. It is a major city, and as when traveling to any major city, use common sense and you shouldn’t encounter any major problems.
Violent crime is not common or prevalent in Boston. Boston is patrolled and kept safe by the Boston Police Department, the 20th largest force in the United States. Some neighborhoods and suburbs have their own police forces, but others are included under the BPD’s umbrella. The MBTA also has its own police force to protect passengers and to investigate crime, but public transportation in Boston is very safe and incidents of crime are rare.ÌýAdditionally, Boston College and most colleges and universities in Boston have their own police force or security detail.
The areas where tourists usually visit are fairly safe, even after dark.Ìý Areas such as Quincy Market,ÌýBack Bay and The North End are usually well populated with people outÌýto enjoy themselves.Ìý During theÌýschool year, you can count on a multitude of students to be out and about lateÌýat night. Ìý
As always in any crowded areas, keep note of your belongings, make sure your wallet or purse is not tooÌýeasy to access. During baseball season, you should be perfectly safe and having a jolly time, since the police are often on hand to help crowd control at Fenway Park and would be happy to help you if you are onsite. Ìý
A recent rise in the murder rate has largely been confined to some of the city’s poorest areas, particularly parts of Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan. As always in a major U.S. city, it is wise to ask around if you plan to explore off the beaten track.
Much of this information was obtained fromÌý