A 7-year high in crime in the Downtown Crossing and Boston Common area is uniting leaders from across the city and state for a closed-door meeting on Thursday night.

More than 70 elected leaders, public health officials, law enforcement members, civic leaders, and other active stakeholders are expected to attend.

When Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox held a press conference in December to highlight the year’s crime stats, the message was clear: With homicides hitting a multidecade low, Boston hasn’t been this safe in a long time.

But what about downtown? Many people who live or work there still feel unsafe walking around. So neighborhood leaders will meet with state and city politicians and law enforcement officials on Thursday, Feb. 27, to discuss a different message: What are we going to do about making it a safer place?

A cup of hot coffee flung at the wall of his 7-Eleven store was the price Philip Minias paid for confronting one would-be shoplifter.

Open round-the-clock, the corner store in Boston’s Downtown Crossing is a prime target for a casual thief intent on swiping snacks and beverages.

The Boston Police Department is in the midst of a “very deliberate pivot” meant to address growing public safety concerns in specific areas around the city, including the downtown area in and around Boston Common. 

Deputy Superintendent Dan Humphreys laid out the current strategy during a Boston City Council hearing on Tuesday. The goal is to increase the visibility of police officers in certain problem areas and to emphasize community engagement, with an eye towards addressing quality of life issues and making people feel safer in their communities.