Two Boston metropolis councilors are sounding the alarm on a “security breach” that occurred this week at Metropolis Corridor, the place an intruder was given free rein to rifle via workplace suites and steal wallets full of money and bank cards from workers.
Councilors Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy are calling for town to tighten up safety protocols in mild of the intrusion and theft, based on an e-mail from town’s property administration division that was despatched to Metropolis Corridor employees on Tuesday and obtained by the Herald.
In the meantime, Mayor Michelle Wu’s workplace mentioned steps have already been taken in response to the incident and a overview is underway to find out whether or not protocols must be enhanced additional.
“Yesterday, an unauthorized member of the public entered several office suites in City Hall and stole personal belongings from employees,” Tuesday’s e-mail from town states. “Property administration and Boston Police are conscious of the incidents and are collaborating on the investigation, as that is unacceptable and clearly violates emotions of belief and security in our office.
“While City Hall is a welcoming building open to the public, only authorized personnel are allowed in office suites. This is a reminder that all staff need to be diligent, questioning any unfamiliar individuals within office suites, protecting all personal belongings, and alerting security of any suspicious behavior.”
A number of Boston Police Division stories shed extra mild on the theft. Three metropolis workers reported that their wallets, which contained money, bank cards, well being financial savings account playing cards, insurance coverage playing cards, and private ID have been stolen from their places of work on Monday, per the police stories.
One girl who had her pockets snatched out of her purse with two bank cards, her Metropolis Corridor ID, Massachusetts driver’s license, insurance coverage and library playing cards, and $100 in money advised police two of her coworkers noticed an unknown man “in the area who was wearing a brown beanie, dark jacket, sweatpants, and a blue face mask.”
One other worker advised police that not solely have been her money and bank cards stolen from her workplace, however the thief used the playing cards to rack up tons of of {dollars} in unauthorized purchases — $400 at Macy’s and $320 at Walgreens.
“She also stated that two of her colleagues experienced similar incident(s) on the same day,” the police report states.
Councilors Flynn and Murphy are each calling for steps to be taken to make sure a safer work setting for metropolis workers, in mild of the “security breach.”
“There was a security breach at Boston City Hall yesterday and a current active criminal investigation to determine what happened,” Flynn mentioned Tuesday in an announcement to the Herald. “It’s important we work together to provide a safer work environment for city employees and the public as well. Boston works best when we work together.”
Murphy known as the incident “deeply concerning” and urged town to tighten up its safety protocols.
“I appreciate the quick response from Municipal Protective Services and the Boston Police following yesterday’s troubling security breach inside City Hall,” Murphy mentioned Tuesday in an announcement to the Herald. “This incident highlights not a failure of our officers who work onerous each day to maintain this constructing secure, however the necessity to strengthen the programs and protocols that help them.
“It is deeply concerning that an unauthorized individual was able to move through multiple floors and enter several office suites without being questioned. City Hall is a public building, but our work areas must remain secure.”
The at-large councilor added that the incident presents “an opportunity to review internal procedures, ensure that office suite access is monitored appropriately, and provide any necessary support so departments can maintain a secure environment.”
“Our goal is simple: protect the people who work here, safeguard their belongings, and prevent incidents like this from happening again,” Murphy mentioned.
Mayor Wu’s workplace mentioned a day later that steps have already been taken to extend safety after the incident, which concerned unauthorized entry to “several” workplace suites which are restricted to licensed personnel solely.
Municipal Protecting Providers, which supplies safety for metropolis buildings, has elevated inner patrols all through Metropolis Corridor on account of the incident, the mayor’s workplace mentioned.
“Boston City Hall must be a safe and welcoming space all year round for residents, visitors and our city employees,” metropolis spokesperson Michael Osaghae mentioned Wednesday in an announcement. “Boston Police are investigating this incident to ensure that any needed security protocols or resources will be addressed.”
Larry Calderone, president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Affiliation, town’s largest police union, known as for metropolis officers to tighten up safety at Metropolis Corridor in Might of final 12 months, after two folks tried to enter the constructing with a gun.
That incident briefly interrupted a weekly Metropolis Council assembly, and led to a debate over the effectiveness of Metropolis Corridor safety, which consists of unarmed Municipal Protecting Providers officers.
Calderone mentioned on the time that the incident ought to have been a wake-up name for officers to tighten up safety by inserting armed law enforcement officials at entrances at present manned by unarmed guards.
In that case, metallic detectors at a Metropolis Corridor entrance prevented the person and girl from getting previous a safety checkpoint, however Calderone mentioned the end result would have been a lot completely different had an individual gone inside with the intention of firing a weapon.
