BY LEAH DEARBORN
MARBLEHEAD — It’s getting a lot safer to walk the streets in town, say police.
Crime dipped in town by double-digits last year and Chief Robert Picariello hopes the reduction will continue for the rest of the year.
Picariello updated the Board of Selectmen this week on crime statistics and reported a 14 percent drop in crimes against people in Marblehead in 2015 and a 16 percent drop in property crimes.
The chief said there was also a 52 percent overall reduction in crimes against society. He credited the ride sharing company Uber for a decrease in drunk driving.
Selectmen sought Picariello’s advice in handling scam callers that are harassing residents. In some cases, the caller pretends to be an Internal Revenue Service agent to extort money from victims over the phone.
“The IRS will never call you,” said Picariello. “They will always contact you by mail.”
He urged caution when dealing with anyone who claims to be calling from a bank, especially if they ask for private information.
“The reason we’re getting peppered now is because these people go through auto dialers of thousands of numbers,” he said. “My theory is they’ve just gotten to this area.”
In other business this week, selectmen accepted the resignation of Library Trustee Lauren Fogle Boyd.
“Due to employment changes, my schedule no longer permits this commitment,” she wrote.
The Board of Selectmen is accepting letters of interest for the post until June 17.
Her resignation is set against the backdrop of multiple town committee vacancies yet to be filled, including seats on the Council On Aging, Fair Housing Committee, Cultural Council and others.
A list of positions is available on the town website. Interested parties have until June 22 to apply.
Selectmen also discussed a request for support from the USS Manley Association. The nonprofit is comprised of former crewmen from the naval vessel.
In a letter, the group asked the board to get a new Navy destroyer ship named after Marblehead Revolutionary War patriot John Manley.
The board unanimously voted to support the charity’s request.
