Cambridge Police Report Spike in Aggravated Assaults, Robberies in Monthly Report

The Cambridge Police Department reported a sharp rise in aggravated assaults and robberies in March, according to a monthly crime report released Friday.

The report, which tracks violent and property crimes citywide, logged more than 600 incidents so far in 2026. Robberies jumped 75 percent from February to March, with seven cases reported. Aggravated assaults rose 32 percent, increasing from 19 to 25 incidents — largely concentrated in Central Square.

Central Square has seen a high prevalence of violent crime in the last several years. In 2025, the area accounted for 38 percent of aggravated assaults and 62 percent of street robberies, according to CPD. In the first three months of 2026, those figures stand at 26 percent and 31 percent, respectively.

So far this year, 21 of Cambridge’s 81 reported assaults have occurred in Central Square. But CPD cautioned that “it remains to be seen” whether the area will return to its status as a historic hotspot.

CPD said that multiple incidents in Central Square involved homeless people, both as victims and suspects. The department has taken steps over the years to address rising rates of homelessness in Central Square — including conducting more frequent, personal wellness checks on homeless residents in the neighborhood.

Overall crime in Cambridge rose 28 percent from February to March. Even so, total reported crime remains below last year’s pace: 627 incidents through March, compared to 811 during the same period in 2025.

Shoplifting remained the most common offense, though reports declined in March to 55 from 68 in February.

Other property crimes also climbed. Bicycle thefts tripled, from six incidents in February to 18 in March, while thefts from motor vehicles rose from seven to 20.

While there have been more than 100 violent crimes in 2026, there has only been one reported homicide — the first in nearly a year. The last reported homicide in Cambridge was the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Angel Nieves in North Cambridge in January 2025.

Cambridge police responded to a reported stabbing at 116 Norfolk St. on Jan. 6, an apartment building near Inman Square, where they located a male victim with serious injuries. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Police located and arrested Victor J. Rivas, a 51-year-old from South Boston, at the scene. He was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury in connection with the incident. Rivas pleaded not guilty to all charges at his arraignment on Jan. 9, and awaits a hearing to set a trial schedule on April 17.

Investigators believe Rivas knew the victim. The case remains under investigation, according to the March report.

—Staff writer Shawn A. Boehmer can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at shawnb.18. Follow him on X @ShawnBoehmer.

—Staff writer Claire A. Michal can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at ClaireMichal.154.