The crime rate may be down... (Chicago, Oak Lawn: real estate market, renter, neighborhoods) - Illinois (IL) - City-Data Forum

prairiestate · 05-19-2010, 11:06 PM

but I'm not feeling any safer living near the city.

1st

2 teens charged in Archer Heights attack :: The SouthtownStar :: News (http://www.southtownstar.com/news/2292146,archer-heights-stab-shoot-0519.article - broken link)

My grandparents had lived in this neighborhood for nearly 50 years. Gang related shootings and violent crime have only become an issue within the past five years. The same applies to all neighborhoods on the far southwest side. Violent and gang related crime has definitely become far more widespread then the high crime rate days of the late 80's/early 90's, and you're seeing signs of it in many inner suburbs as well. Oak Lawn police formed a gang unit last year, fortunately to prevent a problem from developing, rather then to contain an existing one.

2nd

'Execution-style' killings is city's second triple in a month :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Chicago Crime (http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/2290144,CST-NWS-trunk19.article - broken link)

Admittedly it's too soon to call this a trend, but I remember as a kid in the 80's when bodies would occasionally be found in car trunks at O'Hare, during the last days of the Chicago outfit. Anybody else have a sense that many of the violent crimes recently are starting to seem more brutal? Also see the story above, where the guy was stabbed 19 times, or the Bucktown robbery/beatings.

Avengerfire · 05-19-2010, 11:19 PM

I bet they are all illegals or the children of illegals.

Drover · 05-20-2010, 12:14 AM

There's no telling where the three guys in the car were actually picked up and/or shot. Nonetheless, there's been some rumblings in this forum for the better part of two years about how the Clear-Ridge area is starting to lose its grip. As time marches on the evidence points more and more toward those rumblings being true. And that makes me incredibly sad even though I don't have any personal investment in the area. If I were a renter down there I wouldn't be scared off yet. But if I owned property there I'd be praying that the real estate market picks up some time before the bottom completely falls out of the neighborhood.

urza216 · 05-20-2010, 01:00 AM

Where do you live "near the city"? Folks on this forum seem to be quite worried about crime "near the city" in Calumet City, Dolton and Berwyn too.

Man up, sissy. Or GTFO and move to East Bumfuk, Indiana.

prairiestate · 05-20-2010, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urza216

Where do you live "near the city"? Folks on this forum seem to be quite worried about crime "near the city" in Calumet City, Dolton and Berwyn too.

Man up, sissy. Or GTFO and move to East Bumfuk, Indiana.

Well, those are two options. However, I grew up in Evergreen Park, spent a lot of time as a kid in Archer Heights and all the neighborhoods in between there and EP. So, I know it is definitely possible to live in or near the city without having to worry about gang violence. Therefore, I think my preference will be for the third option.

I live in Oak Lawn now and would hardly consider it dangerous, but after watching the trends over the last 20 years and seeing the odd bit of gang graffiti or violent crime in the police blotter in Oak Lawn it's hard not to feel a bit pessimistic.

Lookout Kid · 05-20-2010, 12:45 PM

Crime is in fact down, but while it goes down in some areas (Bronzeville, Logan Square, Uptown), it goes up in others (Marquette Park, Roseland, Hegewisch).