Boston – A longtime Dorchester neighbor is pressing city officials to expand the role of the 311 non‑emergency service to include reports of package thefts. Cara Gillis, who serves on the Dorchester North Neighbors Association board, says the current process forces victims to drive to a police precinct for a simple complaint, a step many find inconvenient.
Why the change matters to residents
Gillis has witnessed the rise of package thefts in her block, even finding opened parcels left on the street. “It was somebody’s medication. I was alarmed, so I brought it home and looked it up. It turned out to be chemotherapy medication,” she recalled. The incident underscored how stolen deliveries can affect health and safety, not just material loss.
To protect her own deliveries, Gillis created a personal system of lockboxes and timed deliveries, but she acknowledges that most residents lack such resources. “You would have to literally take time out of your day, drive there, wait for someone to take your report and it could be for something as small as a pair of socks,” she said. The extra effort discourages many from filing official complaints.
Current reporting process
At present, Boston Police Department handles package thefts as criminal matters. Victims must file a police report in person or online through the department’s portal. While the police do record the incidents, the process can be slow and offers little insight into broader patterns.
Gillis argues that allowing 311 to accept these reports would streamline data collection. “With better data, the city could begin to answer basic but important questions: Where are thefts concentrated? What times of day are most problematic? Are there recurring patterns?” she wrote in a letter to city leaders.
What the data shows so far
NBC10 Boston examined the city’s 311 database and found that residents have already submitted a number of package‑theft complaints through the system. Those calls are automatically forwarded to the police because theft is a criminal offense, not a non‑emergency service request. However, the 311 platform does not currently categorize or track these calls in a way that produces useful analytics for the city.
By treating package theft reports as a distinct 311 service category, the city could generate maps and time‑of‑day heat charts, helping police allocate patrols more effectively and informing community‑based prevention measures.
Response from city officials
Houghton‑Mifflin’s outreach to the Boston Police Department, Mayor Michelle Wu’s office, and the 311 service team has not yet yielded a response. City officials have historically been receptive to citizen‑driven ideas that improve public‑safety data, but no official statement has been released regarding Gillis’s proposal.
What residents can do now
Until any policy change occurs, residents who experience a stolen package should continue to file a police report either in person or via the Boston Police online portal. They may also call 311 to request a non‑emergency assistance call, but the request will be forwarded to the police for handling.
Community groups like the Dorchester North Neighbors Association continue to raise awareness about package theft, encouraging neighbors to use secure delivery options such as lockboxes, parcel lockers, or in‑person pickup at local businesses.
Looking ahead
If the city adopts Gillis’s suggestion, Boston could join other municipalities that have integrated package‑theft reporting into their 311 systems, creating a more transparent and data‑driven approach to a problem that affects thousands of households each year.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
