We’ve reached the end of the third-coldest and third-snowiest meteorological winter in Chicago history and the crime stats are looking good!
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| This grid shows the number of robberies in Wrigleyville and Boystown during each month since January 2001. The 10 best and 10 worst months are shaded green and red respectively. More than 10 months are shaded in each color due to ties. Data Source: City of Chicago Data Portal Image: CWB Reader T |
The primary measure of the problem on the streets in our neighborhood, robbery, is showing a 74% drop so far in 2014 compared to this point last year.
Preliminary records indicate that only one robbery was reported in February on Wrigleyville and Boystown’s police beats of 1923, 1924, and 1925.
If that preliminary info holds, it will be the first time that only one robbery was recorded during a full month since February 2007.
Through February, 10 robberies were reported in the neighborhood this year, down 74% from last year’s count of 38. It is the slowest start of a year for robberies since 2007 when only four incidents were logged.
Of course, the challenge will come when our weather clears.
Other Stats
Through February 21, citywide reported crime is down 27% compared to the same period last year.
The 19th district is down 29% vs. 2014 in overall crime so far this year, with the Wrigleyville and Boystown neighborhoods’ overall reported crime being down 41%.
The Headline You Won’t Be Seeing
There is one stat that is outside of our focus, but will be noticeably absent from headlines as we begin a new month.
While homicides are down 28% year to date, February’s kill count is UP 35% compared to last February.
Shhhh. The mayor’s jumping in the lake with Jimmy Fallon tomorrow. Don’t ruin the moment.
