CHICAGO — North Side residents are invited to help protect their community from crime by occupying the streets and attending some fun events around the neighborhood Tuesday.
The "National Night Out" will take the place of the monthly community policing meeting for several beats in the 19th and 20th District and will take place from 4-7 p.m. at Weiss Plaza, 4800 N. Sheridan Road. Those beats include: 1913, 1915, 1932, 1923, 1924 and 1925, police said.
The meeting comes right on time for Uptown residents, who have seen a rash of shootings recently. A 48-year-old woman was shot around 9:30 p.m. Saturday and a man was shot around 4:20 a.m. Friday in the 5000 block of North Kenmore Avenue, police said.
From July 1-23 in neighboring Lakeview — the most recent dates for which statistics were available — there was nearly one robbery or burglary per day, totaling 11 robberies and nine burglaries, according to police data.
A total of 184 violent crimes and thefts were reported during those three weeks, including 11 aggravated assaults or batteries, 102 thefts and 14 thefts from vehicles.
While officers will be out and about with the neighbors enjoying barbecue and music, some community groups are hosting their own events to piggyback on Tuesday's festivities. The Buttercup Park Advisory Council will be hosting a line dancing class and movie night at Sheridan's Plaza.
The urban soul line dancing class hosted by Keema's Kickin Crew will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 4921 N. Sheridan Road. The class will be for the entire family, and dancers of all ages and skill levels are invited.
At dusk, all families are invited to bring out their lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets to watch the movie "Pocahontas." In case of inclement weather, the events will take place at Margate Park Fieldhouse, 4921 N. Marine Dr., the group said.
National Night Out is an annual community-building program meant to build police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, all while making neighborhoods safer. It aims to enhance the relationship between neighbors and officers by bringing the community together under positive circumstances, according to their website.
The event was founded in 1981 and takes place in over 16,000 communities, according to their website.
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