Several residents demanded that police continue their investigation into the attack on Tan.

But Cambridge police said last night that they will soon suspend their investigation due to lack of information.

Tan could only identify his attackers as three males.

HRE, which owns Peabody Terrace, agreed to install additional lighting and to hire an additional uniformed security officer.

And Cambridge police offered to provide an officer to walk through the area each afternoon and evening.

Some monitoring will be done by Peabody inhabitants themselves. Residents signed up at last night's meeting to create a crime watch committee.

Harvard police will establish a self-defense program for residents and inform them of safe walking routes, Murphy said.

Shattered Security

The attack shattered some residents' sense of security.

"This shows that even at 6:30 you have to be careful," Tan said.

"I felt safe until the incident, but it's made me uncomfortable," said Peabody resident leske K. Iehsi.

But police called the attack an isolated incident.

"There is no pattern of violence," said Murphy. "This is not a high crime area and it's generally very safe."

Police have been called to Peabody only nine times this year, Cambridge police said at the meeting