Dear Neighbors,
Thanks to all who attended the 43rd Ward Safety Forum. It yielded important information about what we can do at the state policy level and as individuals to keep our community safe.
You can watch the entire program on our
Facebook page. Here are some highlights
Changes is needed in Springfield to Balance Victims' Rights with Juvenile Rights.
Last year,
42% of vehicular hijackings (that is, with a weapon) were committed by juveniles.
In 2016, there were 600 carjackings
In 2017, there were 1000 carjackings.
Until July 1, 2017, carjackings with a gun were automatically treated as an adult offense. Now, they are handled as juvenile crimes with shorter detentions and, in some cases, erasure of the offense from the offender's record. Currently the policy allows juveniles who commit a violent offense to be immediately released - which is totally unacceptable.
We must also prosecute "gateway" crimes. Often, adults and juveniles commit the crime of Possession of Stolen Vehicles before they are emboldened to hi-jack a vehicle. These early crimes are not properly prosecuted due to a unique glitch in Illinois law.
SB 2339, currently before the Illinois House, allows possession of stolen motor vehicles to be prosecuted like other stolen property crimes. It also allows some juveniles who are arrested for committing an armed carjacking to be detained pretrial.
The current policy that is sometimes called "catch and release" isn't working, according to
Superintendent Johnson.
What Citizens Can Do
Call 911 - 911 dispatchers again stress if you feel uncomfortable and would like a policeman on the scene, call 911. If you see someone suspicious around your or a neighbor's house, call 911 and offer as full as description as possible.
If you are a victim of a hold-up - give the offender what they want. Your car or your wallet is less important than your personal safety.
Consider getting a video doorbell - 19th District Commander Buslik recommended these as a prudent safety measure. Some models allow you to speak from your phone to persons at your door. Check out
Nest,
Ring, and
Skybell. Key features to consider include the quality of the video, whether it works at nights, and whether the video is saved.
Link up your exterior cameras to OEMC - The home versions of Next, Ring, and Skybell can't be linked to the city, but cameras produced by
Axis and Vivotek use the
Stratocast program and can link to the City network. Here are the
details of the OEMC program.
Keep your doors locked - The single most common crime in our Ward is theft via an open garage, window or door. It takes seconds for a thief to enter your garage or home.
Have a security assessment - The 18th and 19th Districts, will, on request, survey a block or alley if neighbors get together and ask for it. Contact
18th District CAPS or
19th District CAPS.
Place a Crime Watch sign in your window - Let criminals know we're a united and involved community.. We have signs in our office, or you can
download this one.
Here are more
actions you can take from the Chicago Police Department.