Burlington Police Attribute Spike In Crime Rates To More Hotels

BURLINGTON, MA -- Burlington Police say the increased number of hotels is leading to an increase in local crime. In a press release issued Monday, the department noted that there are now eight hotels either open or in development in Burlington, and that a reverse sting operation that netted five arrests of men looking to pay for sex was only a small sample of the types of crime those hotels attract.

"The growth of Burlington’s hotel industry — eight hotels online or in development — has spurred economic opportunities for the town and its business base, but with this growth has come an increase in crime," the police department said in a statement. "Recently, there have been several assaults and robberies, two confirmed cases of human trafficking and the discovery of a drug lab in a Burlington hotel."

It was the second time since the Feb. 3 reverse prostitution sting that the department has publicized its efforts to crack down on the illegal sex trade and human trafficking. Meanwhile, in November, two men had been charged with murdering a woman who had advertised sexual services online in a botched robbery were found guilty.

In that case, Derrell Fisher, 23, of, Roxbury, and Epshod Jeune, 27, of Burlington, were found guilty on multiple charges for the crime spree from July 1 to July 2, 2015, including the fatal shooting of Sanisha Johnson, 34, of the Bronx, New York and a robbery at the Red Roof Inn in Woburn. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday at 9 am.

The men targeted women that had placed ads online soliciting sexual services. After arranging meetings with the women, they robbed them at gunpoint.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).