Recession? Feh. The cost of deeded parking spaces went up last year in the sorts of Boston neighborhoods that have such things.

Location

Four alleged thugs from Boston and one from Brockton were arrested early today on charges they held up two men at gunpoint at a Reynolds Way party, then beat them up and threw them down some stairs, Boston Police report:

The [first] victim then went on to explain to officers that one of the suspects initially approached him in the party and stated to him, "You don't want to lose your life tonight!" According to the victim, after the suspect made that statement to him, he attempted to leave the party when he was confronted by five suspects in the hallway. In the hallway, the victim reported that one of the suspects brandished a handgun and pointed it a the victim and yelled, "You don't want to die! Give it up!" The victim reported to officers that the other suspects all motioned like they too were armed, and they started reaching into his pockets. The victim told officers that the suspects told him that they were taking his watch and phone if he wanted to leave alive. After the suspects took the victim's watch, he was beaten up and thrown down the stairs.

Isiah T. Thigpen, 24, of Boston, Aaron D. Bloudson, 21, of Dorchester, Wendell C. Nunes, 25, of Dorchester, Yancey M. Williams, 21, of Dorchester and Demetrius L. Williams, 22, of Brockton were each charged with armed robbery and asault and battery. Bloudson was also charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; Williams faces a charge of possession of cocaine.

The house where Dan Yakovleff was murdered is on fire right now. 3 Alarm Fire Rages in Savin Hill. According to The Dorchester Reporter, suspect Steven Odegard no longer lives there.

Wicked Local Allston/Brighton reports that a Brighton college student who answered a South End housecleaning ad on Craigslist got a bit more than she bargained for. On the one hand, the guy gave her $200 instead of the $70 he offered in the ad. On the other hand, she had to fold all his underwear. Also, he was naked.

Prosecutors say Jordan Lyttle, 18, of Roxbury, beat Qumane Willams so hard the teen lost vision in one eye - six weeks before Williams was shot to death. By pleading guilty today, Lyttle was sentenced to two years in a county jail, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office, which had sought a sentence of seven to ten years in a state prison.

Prosecutors say Lyttle used a metallic object to punch Williams repeatedly in the middle of Washington Street near E. Newton St. this past April 30, prosecutors say.

Williams was shot to death on June 18 in Roxbury, in a case that remains unsolved, officials say.

Talk about making a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

The South End News reports a man walking with a woman wound up getting stabbed when another guy made a "lascivious" comment, which led to a fight.

The South End News reports the Hingham Institution for Savings, 540 Tremont St., was held up by a man who told the teller he had a gun on Dec. 2.

Mats Tolander tells you what you missed at the annual Swedish Christmas fair at the Cyclorama:

... I gorged on Princesstårta, våfflor and what not. The kid, in full Swedish character dressed in a Fem myror är fler än fyra elefanter-outfit, was well behaved and held it together even at the end when he was clearly sick and tired of the whole Swedefest. ...