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Theft, Gunshots Concern 12th District Residents

By Chloe Riley | December 12, 2012 8:28am
 Sergeant Geno Rouse from the Mass Transit Unit talks to residents about 'L' safety during the holidays.
Sergeant Geno Rouse from the Mass Transit Unit talks to residents about 'L' safety during the holidays.
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DNAinfo/Chloe Riley

WEST LOOP—Theft was a major concern for Near West Side residents at Tuesday night’s CAPS meeting in the 12th District.  

Beat 1224, which after the beat merger will extend south to Adams Street and north to Lake Street, has had 104 incidents of theft from Oct. 9 through Dec. 11.

Officer Paris Edwards warned residents to be especially careful of theft during the holiday season.

“These individuals are going Christmas shopping too,” he said. “For our stuff.”

Since the area has experienced repeat incidents of theft on the "L," Sgt. Geno Rouse from the Mass Transit Unit was on hand to give residents advice about safety on the trains.

“Watch out for guys moving from train to train,” he said.

Rouse also advised residents to make direct eye contact with any person acting suspicious on the "L" and “show no signs of fear.”

In addition, he reassured residents that the Chicago Police Department had recently added an additional eight to 10 undercover officers per watch, and that many of those officers ride the "L" and respond to incidents on the trains.

But theft was not the only issue that had residents concerned.

Amanda Parks, 33, has lived in her condo at the corner of Jackson Boulevard and Halsted Street for the past two years.

She said she’s heard gunshots on several occasions outside her building and called 9-1-1 to no avail.

“Most of the time, no one ever shows up,” she said. “It’s just really scary.”

Officer Edwards told Parks to continue to call when she sees or hears gunfire and to call back and report to the 9-1-1 agent if police failed to show. 

“That call has to be given out at some point and they have to respond,” Edwards said. 

Parks, a wedding designer, said she thought the 5 a.m. restaurants in the area attract a rowdy club crowd that is more apt to get into fights.

Sgt. Rebecca Arguelles said her division was aware of the issues caused by the late night restaurants and had been working with Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) to speak with several of the restaurant owners.

 The next CAPS meeting location for Beat 1224 is currently undecided due to a merger between the 12th and 13th districts.