Near West Neighborhood Comparison

[chitownperson]

A lot of people get assaulted during these muggings. It's not 'hand over your money or else', it's a crack in the head with the butt of the gun, or a broken nose before the belongings are stript from you type of thing. Having muggings like that once a week is a little more worrisome compared to muggings where your not assaulted.

Why do you think they got rid of the over passes at uic? Because people were getting raped and mugged. It was a hot spot for voilent crime, and yes, it was a regular occurrence for the larger body of people. Student are the ones typically targeted.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by chitownperson

A lot of people get assaulted during these muggings. It's not 'hand over your money or else', it's a crack in the head with the butt of the gun, or a broken nose before the belongings are stript from you type of thing. Having muggings like that once a week is a little more worrisome compared to muggings where your not assaulted.

Why do you think they got rid of the over passes at uic? Because people were getting raped and mugged. It was a hot spot for voilent crime, and yes, it was a regular occurrence for the larger body of people. Student are the ones typically targeted.

You are exaggerating the problem. I don't know what your motivation is, but the UIC area is not particularly prone to crime relative to the type of urban environment it is in.

In 2010 there were 7 sex crimes reported in the UIC vicinity. I don't have data on exactly what each of those were, but statistically not all of those were opportunistic, violent stranger rapes. 7 in an area with that population is in line with what you would expect based on the low end of the national average annual rate for reported rapes since 2000.

For the same year, there were a total of 170 reported aggravated robberies, assaults, batteries or non-aggravated robberies. The city-wide average incidence for those kinds of crimes is about .6%. So if the 170 crimes covers the 30,000 people I previously mentioned than you'd expect there to be 180 of those crimes, based solely on city-wide rates.

So, you can fear-monger all you want, but the hard facts are that the UIC area is not more dangerous than the city as a whole.

Stats pulled from UIC's reporting page.

[oakparkdude]

Its always refreshing when some uses hard data to support their arguments. Bravo.

[chet everett]

Is that supposed to be re-assuring?

Somehow I doubt that all those crimes were committed against folks that lacked "street smarts"...

Some folks have any awfully wide blind spot when it comes to crime, why is that?

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Is that supposed to be re-assuring?

I suppose it depends on what you use as your baseline.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Is that supposed to be re-assuring?

Somehow I doubt that all those crimes were committed against folks that lacked "street smarts"...

Some folks have any awfully wide blind spot when it comes to crime, why is that?

A "blind spot" would be walking around not knowing or caring what the actual data was and pretending that there are places without any crime or that not knowing about crime somehow means you'll be safe. If you're of the "ignorance is bliss" mold then there's nothing to say to you. But if you're a rational person who recognizes the value of knowledge and can live without his head in the sand then, yes, those numbers should be re-assuring.

[motob]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Some folks have any awfully wide blind spot when it comes to crime, why is that?

Those folks with so-called blind spots may have extended first hand experience with areas under discussion.

Unlike other types, who see fit to make things up from their keyboard.

[long101]

Ive lived in Pilsen, WickerPark, 'East UIC' and 'West UIC'. Personally Ive never felt uncomfortable in any of the areas, well maybe Pilsen somewhat, but I was also too far west IMO. I wouldnt go for a jog at 2am in Pilsen or West UIC, and wouldnt want to use the Western Blue line at that time either. If money is no objection and you dont mind a longer commute I would go for WP, otherwise UIC and Pilsen are worth looking into.

[chitownperson]

Originally Posted by emathias

You are exaggerating the problem. I don't know what your motivation is, but the UIC area is not particularly prone to crime relative to the type of urban environment it is in.

In 2010 there were 7 sex crimes reported in the UIC vicinity. I don't have data on exactly what each of those were, but statistically not all of those were opportunistic, violent stranger rapes. 7 in an area with that population is in line with what you would expect based on the low end of the national average annual rate for reported rapes since 2000.

For the same year, there were a total of 170 reported aggravated robberies, assaults, batteries or non-aggravated robberies. The city-wide average incidence for those kinds of crimes is about .6%. So if the 170 crimes covers the 30,000 people I previously mentioned than you'd expect there to be 180 of those crimes, based solely on city-wide rates.

So, you can fear-monger all you want, but the hard facts are that the UIC area is not more dangerous than the city as a whole.

Stats pulled from UIC's reporting page.

I'm not "fear-mogering", and I have no "motivation" to crap on UIC. 170 reports of "reported aggravated robberies, assaults, batteries or non-aggravated robberies" pretty much is in line with the number I mentioned. Yes, it's not K-Town, but I never suggested it was.

As for the 7 violent rapes of 2010, it was obvious I was talking about a time when they have the over passes.

You can cite the population all you want, and put the raw data up against other local percentages, but it still doesn't change the fact that those types of robberies happen on a weekly basis, with violence involved, in an around the UIC area.

The perception of what is or is not safe is up to the individual to decide.