| Lowell, MA, located in Middlesex County, isn’t a typical New England city. Unlike other New England communities, Lowell was founded in the 1820s for the express purpose of manufacturing textiles. It’s location was ideal, only 25 miles from the major shipping port of Boston and with the Merrimack River available to supply water power to the mills. Irish immigrants fleeing the Potato Famine and young farm girls quickly filled the available jobs. Lowell – Early Success Followed by Industrial Failure By the 1850s, Lowell had succeeded in becoming the largest industrial complex in the U.S by weaving cloth from southern cotton. However, Lowell slowly fell onto hard times. By the 1930s, the city was referred to as a “depressed industrial desert.” Most of the brick textile mills were vacant. During the 1970s, Wang Laboratories, one of the first computer manufacturers, began Lowell’s revival. A new wave of immigrants from Cambodia flooded into Lowell, followed by Latinos and other immigrants. Once-vacant mill buildings have been restored for residential and office use. However, Lowell still struggles to find a new identity while many residents continue their fight against poverty. Per capita income in Lowell is significantly lower than in surrounding Middlesex County or the state of Massachusetts. Lowell neighborhoods: $19-27,000Middlesex County: $43,000Massachusett: $36,000 Gang Activity – A Crisis Residents consider gang activity to be a crisis, partially a result of many of Lowell’s immigrants never fully assimilating into the larger culture. There are 25-30 active gangs in Lowell, with Latino and Cambodian gangs being the most prominent and violent. Cambodian youth are especially challenged since many of their parents suffer from PTSD and other mental health problems as a result of the stress they suffered when the Khmer Rouge ruled Cambodia. Almost half of Lowell’s residents are ethnic minorities, including more residents of Cambodian descent than are found in any other U.S. city. Efforts are being made to reach out to local youth and redirect them from gang activity but local residents are still forced to deal with the crime and violence. In June, 2016, 22 people were arrested in one day for drug distribution, but others quickly take their places. Lowell – A Dangerous Place to Live Lowell has one of the higher crime rates in the U.S., 31 crimes per 1,000 residents. 80% of U.S. cities are considered safer to live in than Lowell.In 2015, there were 599 violent crimes and 2,813 property crimes.Lowell has an alarming 235 crimes per square mile compared to only 29 crimes per square mile for Massachusetts as a whole.The highest crime rates are found in central Lowell in the Middlesex St./Central St. neighborhoods and the surrounding areas.Another high crime area is in northwest Lowell near Vamun Ave./Totman Rd.There are no local neighborhood watch groups. Gun Ownership in Lowell Politically, Massachusetts is very liberal and anti-gun ownership. There are stringent regulations governing gun ownership in Lowell. Most residents with a License to Carry are not allowed to carry a concealed firearm outside their home but must lock up their weapon before leaving. There have been complaints that this regulation prevents lawful gun owners from being able to fully protect themselves. The only exceptions to this rule are: Victims of a violent crimeThose in law enforcementBusiness owners who regularly carry a large amount of cash Home Security Systems are Recommended It is strongly recommended that Lowell residents take steps to protect themselves because of the high crime rates. A typical burglar is looking for an easy target that they can be in and out of in 10 minutes or less. Knowing that a home is protected by a home security system will cause most thieves to bypass the protected home and look for one that isn’t protected. When someone does break into a home, the first place that they will go is to the master bedroom. Expect the room to be ransacked as they search for cash, jewelry, drugs and guns. On the way out, they will grab whatever else has some value. Most people never recover any of their stolen items. Professional vs. DIY Home Security Systems Any home security system is much better than doing nothing at all. The objective is to keep an intruder out of the home or apartment until either the intruder gives up and runs off or the police arrive. Don’t forget the obvious: install deadlocks on sturdy entry doors. Use door jammers if appropriate. Lock doors and windows even when someone is home. Trim shrubbery that is near doors or windows so that it can’t be used to conceal a would-be burglar. Check your policy or talk to your insurance agent if you have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. There may be a discount of up to 20% on the premium if the home has a security system but expect this discount to only apply for certain types of systems. Both professional and DIY home security systems have their pros and cons. Professional Installations Pros A professional installation ensures that everything is installed correctlyProfessional 24/7 monitoringOptions such as battery backups and motion sensors that won’t be set off by family petsSupport is available if needed Cons Monthly charge and maintenance contractBetter suited to homeowners than renters since the system remains with the property DIY Installations Pros Less expensiveChoose the components you wantNo monthly charge or long-term contractTake it with you if you move Cons Usually depends upon homeowner monitoring although professional monitoring may be available for a feeLittle or no support if there’s a problemMust install yourselfMay not qualify for homeowner’s or renter’s insurance discount and/or coverage Lowell has a mix of both long-term residents, students and newcomers. There are many desirable neighborhoods in Lowell, but also low-income areas with higher crime rates. In either case, a home security system will help to protect both your family and possessions for a relatively low cost when considering potential losses. |
