(The Center Square) – The city of Chicago saw another crime-filled weekend as a man was stabbed, and more than a dozen vehicles were broken into and stolen in the South Loop. As violent crimes like murder are down, other crimes are shooting up.
Twelve cars were broken into and ransacked in the South Loop, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage; the occurrence is becoming more and more common in the city.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker was asked about the crime issue last week and said crime is up, but murders are down.
“Violent crime has been coming down, actually, for three years but in particular over the last year,” Pritzker said. “Shootings and murders have come down significantly. Again, it doesn’t make anyone feel safer to just hear a statistic; it will take some time, but that is something people should know.”
Chicago Police statistics show that even though murders have decreased, robberies in the city limits are up 25 percent this year, and car thefts are up 47 percent this year.
The problem of car thefts has led to pushback from police officials, and John Catanzara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, said that the feeling of safety in the city has slipped away.
“We are taking suggestions and recommendations on what should be done because it is getting worse, not better,” Catanzara said. “Violent crime may be down, but the feeling of being less safe in this city is prevalent.”
The problem has been an issue for Mayor Brandon Johnson as a recent poll by The Illinois Policy Institute’s Lincoln Poll shows Johnson’s approval rating is just 28%, while 50% of Chicago voters disapprove of his actions.
The weekend also saw a man shot in Oakbrook and another man stabbed in the River North neighborhood.
Since Johnson took office, total crime is up 65 percent, motor vehicle theft is up 187 percent, and robberies are up 47 percent.
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