LAKEVIEW — Neighbors in the heart of Lakeview want to know why almost a dozen 911 calls about a trespasser in their building breezeway have repeatedly gone unanswered.
Turns out, they just weren't asking for help the right way, police say.
"A lot of it is how did they call in and how did they articulate [the situation]," said Sgt. Jason Clark, who led a Tuesday community policing meeting for the Town Hall District. "We might have to educate some of the residents how to properly call in."
The complaints came as neighbors press harder for the promised increase in police manpower for the district, also known as the 19th District. Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) is meeting with leaders of the Chicago Police Department this week for an update on the boost, which got off to a shaky start in its first couple months.
Since Oct. 1, the district has grown by 15 officers — short of the 25 expected to join by the end of March. That number also includes eight transferred in November to the district, which were not included in the promised 35 officers for 2016.
Here's how Clark said neighbors can get police to respond more quickly to their reports of crime:
• Post "No trespassing" signs in your building. The written warning will allow police to arrest an offender immediately, as opposed to just telling them to leave.
• Tell dispatchers there is criminal trespassing in progress. Chicago police no longer respond immediately to 911 calls unless a suspect is still at the scene or a victim is in danger.
• Remain at the scene and sign criminal complaints. Signing the complaint doesn't necessarily mean you have to go to court — other building representatives can do so on your behalf.
Residents at 3140 N. Sheffield Ave. said a man repeatedly defecated and smoked in the entry to their 51-unit condo building, which has ground-level retail and a parking garage on the first three levels. One woman said she worried the smoking could lead to a fire in an eight-year-old building that has already suffered three fires possibly caused by trespassers in the stairwells.
The condo owners have invested close to $200,000 in security and fencing "to make this problem go away," and are now looking into hiring private security to keep themselves safe, she said.
Frustrated by a lack of police presence in Lakeview, neighbors said they had to resort to asking taxi drivers to watch their backs or take their safety into their own hands.
After a Southport woman told DNAinfo Chicago she was attacked walking from her taxi to her doorway, neighbors offered their own suggestions.
Here's what some of them had to say on Facebook and Neighborhood Square, DNAinfo's social community platform:
"Yet another illustration of how the police cannot protect you, they will only be there to take a report 30 minutes later or to call the coroner to remove your body," wrote Neighborhood Square user WildCat. "Ultimately you are responsible for your own safety, and the best tool for that is to get a gun and learn how to use it."
Others suggested asking taxi drivers to stick around until customers are safe inside their homes.
"Might be worth a big more in a tip to ensure safety," wrote windycitylo. Another agreed that it was "definitely worth the extra $ for your life," but cp-long asked whether it was a dependable solution.
"What if the driver himself sees something and pulls off anyway," they asked.
Several self-identified themselves as victims of crimes and shared their own experiences.
"I called the cops when I was assaulted on Broadway and they never came. I learned later that their policy is to come only if the criminal is still there," wrote rcooke3314.
User HPResident had a suggestion for the woman attacked on Southport:
"I was the victim of a similar attack (different neighborhood) about 18 months ago. I don't think that I will ever have the same feeling of security or comfort about my neighborhood again," HPResident wrote. "I hope that Heather B. will be able to get to a feeling of security. I have found that carrying a portable alarm (which makes an ear-shattering noise) is of some help in terms of my frame of mind."
One person wrote a detailed analysis of where Chicago policing falls short:
"This is what effective policing is all about, deep police intelligence, quick arrests, and certain punishment," wrote egoforth. "Time for Chicago to bite the bullet: clean out the police department of the misfits, problem-makers and over the hill members; raise standards for new police officers, make them accountable, and enforce those standards ... be more pro-active by employing the 'broken window strategy' to stop crime before it grows out of control and degenerates into ungovernable neighborhoods."
Egoforth also suggested hiring civilians for all desk jobs to deploy more active street patrol units, enacting "non-discriminatory" stop-and-frisk methods and segregating "the hardened criminals and recidivists from those able and willing to become reformed" in prisons.
RELATED:
• Do you feel safe in Lakeview? (Neighborhood Square)
• Woman Attacked On Her Porch in Lakeview Says Police Took Too Long to Arrive
• Lakeview Burglaries Spike After Decade-Low Winter in 2015
• El Tapatio Hit For 1st Time in 42 Years as Lakeview Crime Moves West
• Tunney Votes Yes on Property Tax Bump, Gets 43 More Officers For Lakeview
• Plan for More North Side Police Officers Get Shaky Start in Town Hall
• Armed Robberies in Lakeview Prompt Warning From Police
• Lakeview Burglary Spree Continues With Six Recent Break-ins
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