Neighborhood News
McKinley Park Neighborhood Crime Rises 34 Percent in 2022 Over 2021
Serious crime in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood made a huge leap in 2022 compared with 2021, increasing by 34 percent in eight index crime categories: homicide, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft and battery.
Overall, 591 incidents of these eight types of crimes were reported in 2022, compared to 441 in 2021, according to the Crimes Dashboard of the City of Chicago’s Chicago Data Portal.
These eight crime types commonly serve as an indicator of criminal behavior because of their seriousness and frequency of occurrence. Analysis included index crimes in Chicago Police Department Beat 912 and the parts of beats 911 and 924 that overlay the McKinley Park Community Area and Central Manufacturing District.
"The rise in crime is concerning and is my number one priority," said 12th Ward Alderwoman Anabel Abarca. "Reducing crime requires a multi-pronged approach, including addressing the root causes of violence."
All Categories Increase
Motor vehicle theft jumped to 59 incidents in 2022 from 36 incidents in 2021: a 64 percent increase. Homicides jumped by 67 percent: from three in 2021 to five in 2022.
Theft in McKinley Park increased by 56 percent year-to-year, growing to 215 reports in 2022, compared to 138 in 2023. Seven criminal sexual assaults occurred in 2022 versus five criminal sexual assaults in 2021.
Burglaries jumped by 23 percent, and assaults rose by 26 percent, in 2022 compared to 2021.
Neighboring Communities
Batteries and robberies saw the smallest increases — 13 percent and 8 percent, respectively — in 2022 versus 2021.
Crime also increased in communities bordering McKinley Park. In Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood, index crime increased by 35 percent in 2022 as compared to 2021: similar to the McKinley Park neighborhood's increase of 34 percent. The Brighton Park neighborhood saw a 28 percent increase in index crimes in 2022 versus 2021.
Chicago-Wide Increase
The year-to-year increase for index crime in the Lower West Side Community Area, which includes the Pilsen neighborhood, was up 30 percent for 2022 as compared to 2021. In the New City Community Area, incidents of these eight serious crime types climbed 14 percent in 2022 over 2021.
In the City of Chicago as a whole, index crime increased 22 percent in 2022 as compared to 2021.
Top 100 Beats
Chicago police 9th District community policing Officer Jason Sollis noted that Beat 912 has been identified as one of the top 100 beats that has had an increase in crime. Accordingly, an extra squad car is being assigned to the beat on a daily basis, Sollis said.
"We highly encourage residents to join us at CAPS meetings and future safety walks around the ward," Abarca said. "I will continue to fight to ensure the safety of the residents."
The next CAPS Meeting for Beat 912 is set for 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at the McKinley Park field house, 2210 W. Pershing Road, Chicago.
Log In to comment on this item.
Subscribe
Report
My comments