Home / Destinations / Boston
Threat assessment · MA, United States
Boston
Our rating, plus the advisories, health notices, emergency numbers and crime data behind it, from official sources checked Oct 20, 2026.
Nepsis threat assessment
Boston
Reviewed Oct 20, 2026. Scored with our published method; never below the State Department level.
Crime and scams and Transit and roads set the level.
Top actions
- Leave nothing visible in your parked car, and never store passports or luggage in the trunk.
- Keep your phone tucked away on transit platforms and busy sidewalks, and stay aware of who is nearby.
- Confirm the plate and driver name before getting into a rideshare at BOS or around the city.
Know before you go
Dial 911 for police, fire and ambulance anywhere in Boston.
Official advisories
What governments say right now.
Checked Oct 20, 2026. We link every source so you can read it yourself.
| U.S. State Department | No State Department travel advisory applies to U.S. destinations. |
|---|---|
| UK Foreign Office (FCDO) | Last updated Aug 18, 2026. Latest change: Updated information about US Hurricane season predictions (‘Safety and security’ page). Read it → |
| CDC health notices | No active CDC travel health notice for this country. CDC travel notices → |
| Emergency numbers | 911 for police, fire and ambulance. |
| Main airport | BOS |
Crime data
What police report.
Counts are not risk. They show patterns and trends, so you know which habits matter most here.
Tourist zone: Downtown, Beacon Hill, North End and Chinatown (District A1) (Boston Police Department, daily data).
Reported incidents from official police open data. Period: 2025-10 to 2026-09, data through 2026-10-18. Source data →
| Type | Reports | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Other theft | 1,419 reports | about 118 a month |
| Assault | 730 reports | about 61 a month |
| Fraud and scams | 162 reports | about 14 a month |
| Robbery | 107 reports | about 9 a month |
| Car break-ins and vehicle theft | 79 reports | about 7 a month |
| Pickpocketing / theft from a person | 19 reports | about 2 a month |
Boston Police Department, citywide
FBI Crime Data Explorer, year to date. About a two-month lag. Source →
| Offense | Year to date | Change | 12-month rate per 100k |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theft (larceny) | 7,147 through 2026-08 | 0% vs last year | 1,651.8 (state 826.7, U.S. 1,085.1) |
| Robbery | 484 through 2026-08 | -2% vs last year | 111.7 (state 36.1, U.S. 44.1) |
| Vehicle theft | 292 through 2026-08 | -51% vs last year | 67 (state 77, U.S. 168.9) |
| Aggravated assault | 1,995 through 2026-08 | -1% vs last year | 440.4 (state 246.1, U.S. 230.7) |
| Burglary | 631 through 2026-08 | -14% vs last year | 143.9 (state 110.1, U.S. 174.3) |
Crime and scams
What the UK Foreign Office advises.
Excerpt from UK FCDO travel advice, lightly trimmed for travelers outside the UK. This advice covers the whole United States. Full FCDO safety advice →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Protecting your belongings
Do not leave passports in rental cars, especially not in the boot. Gangs may target vehicles driven by people who look like tourists.
Violent crime
Violent crime and gun crime rarely affect tourists, but take care in unfamiliar areas. Try not to walk through quieter areas alone, especially at night. You can find public advisories and information about recent incidents on local law enforcement websites.
Mass shooting incidents can happen but are a very small percentage of murders. The US Department of Homeland Security has advice on what to do in an active shooter incident.
Research your destination before you travel and follow the advice of local authorities. Crime linked to illegal drugs is a major issue in Mexican states bordering Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. Some foreign nationals have been victims of crime in the border regions, but there is no evidence they were targeted because of their nationality.
Protests
Protests are common and can become violent. Follow the instructions of local authorities who may introduce curfews or emergency orders. If you attend peaceful protests or mass gatherings:
- be mindful of your surroundings
- move away if there are signs of trouble
- follow the instructions of local authorities
What this page is
Built on official data.
Our rating above is built on the official government and police data on this page, checked Oct 20, 2026. It does not replace your government's advisory. Planning a trip here? A Nepsis kit turns it into an arrival plan you can carry. See the kits.