SAUGUS S AD Vol. 24, No. 6 -FREEI dentity fraud has gone up by an astronomical 490 percent over the past year, according to statistics released this week by the Saugus Police Department. The amount of identity fraud cases from the period of Feb. 8, 2020 to Feb. 8, 2021 rose from 31 to 183, compared to the similar period over the previous year. That was the most dramatic spike in major crime resulting from an analysis that the Police Department conducted at the request of The Saugus Advocate. Meanwhile, there was a significant drop in several other crimes: • Driving while under the inA year COVID-19 has been driving crime trends in Saugus By Mark E. Vogler percent. • Burglaries — down by 36 percent. • Motor vehicles thefts — down by 21 percent • Shoplifting — down by 17 percent. Overall, arrests were down by 59 percent and the police call volume had dropped by 17 percent, according to the crime analysis compiled by the Police Department. On paper, it looks like the department has done a great job in curbing several major crime categories. But Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli says much of the trends COVID-19 | SEE PAGE 19 Saugus’ newest fi refi ghter, Johnathan Cromby, (right), places a rope around the waist of Paige Canale, a 21-year-old-Saugus resident last Friday (Feb. 5) after she got stuck in the mud along the Saugus River near Stocker Playground. Canale was hiking along the river doing a video for “Tik Tok” before she began sinking knee deep in the mud. She later credited the fi refi ghters who rushed to the scene after her emergency 911 call with saving her life. See inside for story and related photos. (Courtesy photo by Saugus Fire Department Lt. Damian Drella to The Saugus Advocate) Special Town Meeting on Tuesday Improving Route 1 business highway district, a committee for revitalizing Cliftondale Square and a proposal to rename the senior center in honor of the late Dick Barry will be considered By Mark E. Vogler P recinct 2 Town Meeting Member Joe Vecchione says he is concerned about what he sees as a major weakness in the Route One Business Highway Sustainable Zoning District (BHSD) by-law that Town Meeting passed back in 2015. It permitted the Hilltop-Avalon Bay development to have 92 percent of its total square footage of fl oor space residential with the remaining 8 percent commercial. But a revamped BHSD article on the warrant for next Tuesday night’s Special Town Meeting would nearly the amount of total square footage of similar developments — thus increasing the amount tax revenue signifi cantly. “Under the new bylaw, if they were to rebuild that project, hypothetically, that would make it 30 percent of the property for commercial and 70 percent for residential,” Vecchione said in an interview this week. But Vecchione stresses the MEETING | SEE PAGE 17 The Advocate Asks A POSTHUMOUS TRIBUTE: A wide range of town residents from both ends of the political spectrum praise the work and volunteer service of the late Wendy Reed, the longtime clerk to the Saugus Board of Selectmen. Reed, 57, who also served about five years as the unpaid interim director of the Saugus United Parish Food Pantry, died of an apparent heart attack last Friday (Feb. 5). See page 3 for more photos and this week’s “The Advocate Asks.” (Saugus Advocate fi le photo by Mark E. Vogler) ANGELO’S FULL SERVICE Regular Unleaded $2.359 Mid Unleaded $2.459 Super $2.539 Diesel Fuel $2.639 "42 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2020 KERO $4.65 DEF $3.49 9 Diesel $2.259 9 HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS • OPEN 7 DAYS Happy Valentine’s Day to all our Readers! H OCDVO w.advoa.net et Published Every Friday fl uence — down 46 percent • Larcenies — down by 32 OCATC TE 781-233-4446 Friday, February 12, 2021 Tik-Tok, You’re Stuck! Prices subject to change Happy New Year! FLEET
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