LAKEVIEW — After a number of weekend robberies, officials are hoping new measures will put the clamps on crime in Lakeview.
On Tuesday, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) said police were investigating eight reported robberies over the weekend — including five involving armed robbers — to determine whether they are connected to a series of incidents police warned about last week.
All happened between 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., Tunney said.
"We've had quite an eventful weekend, and with the last couple of months, we've seen some spikes in robberies" around Lakeview, Sgt. Jason Clark said Tuesday during a community policing meeting.
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) said Tuesday that the recent crime spurt shows there aren't enough police officers in the neighborhood.
"We're at the lowest count in police officers in the Lakeview area that we've been in many years. And while I don't think it totally dictates how crime is affecting us, it does affect how the officers are dispatched," Waguespack told South Lakeview Neighbors.
Waguespack partially blamed the Chicago Police Department's rapidly rising overtime costs over the past couple years and "bad management" at the top. He said the department has refused to disclose the breakdown of how the overtime money is spent.
Ariel Cheung says officials want neighbors to remain vigilant:
On Tuesday, police asked neighbors to stay vigilant and keep an eye on vehicles idling in illegal parking spots, which could indicate they're waiting for potential victims to rob on quiet side streets.
"The bottom line is, there's too much opportunity in this area, and it's hard for us to be everywhere," Clark said.
Town Hall District police plan to hold outdoor roll calls during shift changes this month, displays that are meant to give neighbors a chance to interact with beat officers and hear instructions from watch commanders.
"Any place where you think a police presence could help, no matter how major or minor the issue. The perception is [potential criminals] can see the police there, and we can work around the area," Capt. Bill Looney said.
The outdoor roll calls will take place:
• 2:30 a.m. Friday, 945 W. Belmont Ave.
• 9 a.m. Tuesday at Belmont and Sheffield avenues
• 2 a.m. Sept. 19 at Roscoe and Halsted streets
• 1 a.m. Sept. 24 at Clark and Eddy streets.
Within the beat surrounding the Belmont "L" station (bounded by Belmont Avenue, Diversey Parkway, Ashland Avenue and Halsted Street), there have been 20 robberies through Aug. 31, up just one from this time last year, Clark told neighbors. So far in 2015, overall crime is down almost 8 percent.
In July, Clark noted that the district had "really fantastic" crime numbers, even with huge crowds during the Pride Parade and Blackhawks Stanley Cup celebrations. The hotter end of summer, though, has made things "rough" in Lakeview, Tunney later noted.
On Monday, police issued a business alert regarding a woman accused of three August bank robberies. The district has issued three other alerts since Aug. 31.
In his warning to neighbors, Tunney highlighted safety tips, which he said will also be passed out with crime alerts in Lakeview's entertainment areas, which generally expand out from the Belmont "L" station into Boystown, the Southport Corridor, Clark Street and Wrigleyville.
Police will be meeting with bar owners and others in the entertainment districts to discuss public safety measures, as well, Clark said. Bouncers, for example, could make sure customers have a safe way home and aren't walking alone, while bartenders can avoid overserving.
The alderman said he has "continuously requested" more police in the Town Hall District.
"Deployment of our resources is essential, and Cmdr. [Robert] Cesario has been committed to increasing staffing" during overnight hours, Tunney said in the email newsletter.
Tunney reiterated his call for chambers of commerce to prioritize public safety for 2016 Special Service Area budgets, which has not been a top priority in recent years.
Police echoed Tunney's push for private security during a community meeting last week. While officers said crime on Lakeview's north side is mostly down compared to this time last year, Tunney and police have focused on bolstering public safety in recent weeks.
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