Oak Park vs. Evanston (Chicago, Naperville: condominium, violent crime, home)

[adele115]

Originally Posted by Rusty_Shackleford

I was going by the stats on city-data, which show Oak Park as having roughly twice as many robberies per capita.

One thing that could be skewing that stat is maybe Oak Park residents are more likely to report robberies. Considering the lack of 'bad' neighborhoods there compared to Evanston... are people in high crime neighborhoods are less likely to report crimes?

That could account for the difference. Statistics always require analysis. It is true that OP does not have any "bad" areas and that crime typically comes from outside the borders, while Evanston does have some problem areas within as well as rogers park (which is far less problematic than Austin).

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by kindrakindra

How common is that scenario where the ten year old gets his bike stolen from kids with guns? I have been researching Oak Park for at least 6 months and have never heard of any stories like that. After asking everyone and their mother, it seems that bike theft is common from garages, but not in an assault and/or battery situation or children. Have I just missed these stories?

Also, Lookout Kid, awhile back I thought you posted a careful analysis of crime in Oak Park and I can't find it. I thought you concluded that the crime in the central area of Oak Park was not so good, defying the east of Ridgeland theory. Was that not you? Do you recall what I am talking about?

The Wednesday Journal reported recently that there were two or three incidents like the one described by the OP, and they caught the perpetrators (same group of teens from Chicago for all two or three incidents). Every now and then there will be robbery flare-ups in Oak Park, and that's when the Wednesday Journal will pick up on it (or for one of the rare horrifyingly violent crimes that occurs there). You can read the Wednesday Journal online at www.wjinc.com, but the stories regarding the bike thefts have since been removed from the "News" section.

That was me who posted that crime analysis. I can't seem to find it now, but I remember saying that crime sort of penetrated westward along the major commercial thorougfares of Lake, Madison, and Washington. I postulated that Lake has higher crime because it is "downtown", so it just has more foot traffic and opportunity. Washington Blvd. has a lot of apartment buildings and has been associated with more poor renters in the past, but many of the buildings have gone condo in recent years. But the east-west stretch between Madison and Washington seems to have more than it's fair share of crime for some reason, as does the pocket of apartments on the west side of Oak Park by the YMCA.

I'm going to post another analysis of per capita crime in Oak Park, Evanston, and a few city neighborhoods that are popular with families. I'll probably throw in some more "typical" suburbs for some context.

[jessiKur]

It's rough living in the ghetto that is Oak Park. I keep my teflon ready.

()

[adele115]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

The Wednesday Journal reported recently that there were two or three incidents like the one described by the OP, and they caught the perpetrators (same group of teens from Chicago for all two or three incidents). Every now and then there will be robbery flare-ups in Oak Park, and that's when the Wednesday Journal will pick up on it (or for one of the rare horrifyingly violent crimes that occurs there). You can read the Wednesday Journal online at www.wjinc.com, but the stories regarding the bike thefts have since been removed from the "News" section.

That was me who posted that crime analysis. I can't seem to find it now, but I remember saying that crime sort of penetrated westward along the major commercial thorougfares of Lake, Madison, and Washington. I postulated that Lake has higher crime because it is "downtown", so it just has more foot traffic and opportunity. Washington Blvd. has a lot of apartment buildings and has been associated with more poor renters in the past, but many of the buildings have gone condo in recent years. But the east-west stretch between Madison and Washington seems to have more than it's fair share of crime for some reason, as does the pocket of apartments on the west side of Oak Park by the YMCA.

I'm going to post another analysis of per capita crime in Oak Park, Evanston, and a few city neighborhoods that are popular with families. I'll probably throw in some more "typical" suburbs for some context.

I would really appreciate seeing this analysis. I agree with your theory regarding the major arteries. It does extend into the heart of Oak Park, and based on recent news in Wed. Journal, it does seem perps are more brazen, but perhaps that is not factually true. Furthermore, I believe the east-west stretch between between Madison and Washington is exacerbated by the fact that that region FEELS like a continuation of the west side. The gas stations, fast food spots, etc., the west siders feel very comfortable extending into Oak Park.

I also question the effectiveness of policing in Oak Park. I don't know what is happening in Evanston, but one gets the sense that the criminals know that Oak Park is filled with liberal leaning types who will acquiesce easily to any assault. Instead of serious consequences, these strong armed bike thieves are often "released to their guardians". They return to Oak Park because they know they can get away w/ it.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by adele115

I would really appreciate seeing this analysis. I agree with your theory regarding the major arteries. It does extend into the heart of Oak Park, and based on recent news in Wed. Journal, it does seem perps are more brazen, but perhaps that is not factually true. Furthermore, I believe the east-west stretch between between Madison and Washington is exacerbated by the fact that that region FEELS like a continuation of the west side. The gas stations, fast food spots, etc., the west siders feel very comfortable extending into Oak Park.

"Analysis" may be too kind of a word. "Observations" would be more appropriate. I've been downloading the monthly crime report PDFs from the Oak Park PD for over a year, and I was just pointing out the ways that the old "East of Ridgeland, South of the Ike" common wisdom is flawed. It was more of a defense of the areas east of Ridgeland than any condemnation of the rest of Oak Park, however!

[kindrakindra]

Here is the link to that story of bike thieves:

Denied:1up! Software

[adele115]

Originally Posted by kindrakindra

Here is the link to that story of bike thieves:

Denied:1up! Software

Yes, that is one of several this summer that are quite disconcerting. There seems to be no consequence other than "released to parents" which doesn't seem to be much of a deterrent. Also odd that it was the daughter of the policeman I believe. Does Evanston have this problem?

[Anthera]

Adele,

You should read the Evanston Review online. There should be a police blotter.

Rather than give you my biased views on Evanston (though I do like Oak Park too), I would sugest that you drive up to Evanston this weekend. check out the lakefront beaches, have lunch downtown, maybe go to an open house.

[Lookout Kid]

You won't find reduced crime in Evanston. It's comparable.

[Alter123]

I just moved into a condo on Oak Park's west side, in the central section. I love it here, though the taxes are outrageous. Anyway, I've had problems with my garage door. I often leave it open by mistake. Once, recently, I left the garage door open over night.

There are two bicycles in the garage. In the five or so times I have left the garage door open, the bikes were left undisturbed. I've been reading this forum for a couple of months, with particular interest in OP, since I was going to purchase here, so I was a bit paranoid about this issue. So, I'm happy to report that there seems to be needless alarm being raised around this issue, and it makes me wonder whether people aren't being alarmist about crime in OP more generally.