That's because at least three other factors have remained constant, said Capt. George Lopit, commander of the Fifth District. Second, a thriving network of town watches makes police aware of kids hanging out on corners, fistfights, underage drinking and other nuisance crime. Third, said Lopit, the community has a high proportion of families and people living in homes they own, and the median income is well above the city average. In other words, residents have a quality of life worth preserving - and a strong stake in their neighborhood.
Fewer roads lead in and out of the area for criminals to use.
Roxborough is popular with police officers, firefighters and other municipal employees, who are required to live in the city. Their presence may not actually make the area safer, residents and business owners say, but it sure makes it feel safer. The small-town touches are everywhere. Roxborough is a place of tall hardwoods and short fences, of gardens so small they wouldn't contain a croquet party, a place where impatiens and black-eyed Susans wave at passersby. Several stores feature hand-lettered signs forbidding more than two students from entering at once.