Beat 2431 News - Rogers Park 24th Police District

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Police camera installed at Greenview and Morse

A blinking blue light camera was installed this week on the light pole at the northwest corner of Morse and Greenview. At the November beat meeting, a resident in a building at that corner had reported witnessing drug dealing, and police made an arrest there in December.

Betsy Vandercook, the chief of staff for 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore, wrote me earlier in the week that a camera was slated to be installed there "based on an analysis of emerging crime trends and intelligence."

Workshop set for Jan. 23 on troubled buildings, gang awareness

All community members are invited to the next Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy workshop. This workshop will entail in depth discussions on burglary "Keepin It Real", troubled buildings, and gang awareness by the pros in these crime areas.

No reservation needed. For more information contact the CAPS Project Office at 312-945-5907.

Date: Saturday, January 23, 2010
Time: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Location: 3510 S. Michigan Avenue

Most residents support zoning change for bar/restaurant on Morse

About 35 residents from around Morse Avenue heard Alex Samardzija explain his plans to bring a bar/restaurant to the new commercial space at 1412 W. Morse. These plans would require a zoning change from B3-3 to C1 because there is another tavern within 400 feet. So 49th Ward Alderman hosted the community meeting to get feedback on the plans.

Judging from comments made, those in attendance overwhelmingly support the development and required zoning change. About 15 people spoke in favor of the bar/restaurant concept, while two neighbors opposed it.

Samardzija said the unnamed bar would be very similar to his other bar/restaurant in Lincoln Square at Damen and Grace called Xippo. The decor would be modern, seating about 50-60 people. He will serve a light fare -- paninis and salads priced from $5 to $10. He also expect to feature acoustic music. Samardzija sid his family has been in the bar and restaurant business in Chicago for 40 years. Alex himself is a real estate developer who has been working in the 49th Ward for about 10 years. He built the 16-unit mixed use development at 1412-14 W. Morse three years. It is now all rentals until the condo market turns around.

Here is a sampling of comments from the audience: "We need something like on Morse." - "We need sidewalk traffic on Morse and this will bring it." - "We can make our neighborhood safer by having more people spend their dollars here." One person described Xippo as having a "lovely, understated decor -- like out of Crate and Barrel II."

A person who opposed it said there are enough taverns in the area, and said she has seen problems with taverns in mixed-use buildings. Samardzija said there would be a a restaurant focus here rather than a bar focus. He wants the tavern license so he can keep food costs lower and serve liquor after the kitchen closes. Samardzija said he would employ 12-16 people.

Alderman Moore said folks could still comment on the zoning change via email or by calling his office at 773-338-5796.

Serious crime and overall crime in beat drop 20% in 2009, compared to 2008

Index crime in Beat 2431 fell by almost 20% in 2009 compared to 2008, according to the latest crime stats released at the January beat meeting. Overall, there were 63 fewer index crimes in 2009 compared to 2008 -- 261 vs. 324.

Total crime in the beat dropped 20.1% in 2009 over 2008. That improves greatly on the 2008 figure of a 4.5% reduction in overall crime compared to 2007. Overall there were 78 crimes on the beat in 2009, compared to 983 in 2008 -- a drop of 198 crimes. 

Index crime increased in 2008 vs. 2007 bu 2.2%. So that's a swing of more than 22 percentage points, comparing 2009 to 2008 index crimes.

Theft and car theft dropped the most among index crimes in 2009 over 2008. There were 28.1% fewer thefts (120 vs. 167), and 50% fewer auto thefts (14 vs. 28). There was a slight increase in both burglaries and robberies -- 3 more burglaries (50 in 2009 vs. 47 in 2008) and 2 more robberies (44 vs. 42). 

Simple domestic battery is the second highest crime category in the beat after theft. And there was a slight increase in domestic battery in 2009 vs. 2008 -- 71 vs. 67. Simple assault is the next most common crime, and its prevalence dropped in 2009 by 18% -- 67 vs. 78 in 2008.

Incidents of narcotics use dropped in 2009 over 2008. In 2009 there were a total of 93 vs. 130 in 2008, for a 28.5% decrease. Possession of 30 grams of marijuana was by far the biggest drug crime in the beat. There were 61 incidents vs. 77 in 2008, an almost 21% reduction.

In 2008, index crime increased 2.2% over 2007, while overall crime dropped 4.5%.

In 2007, index crime dropped almost 12% compared to 2006.

Minutes from Jan. 11, 2010, beat meeting

About a dozen hardy Beat 2431 residents and business owners braved cold weather and heard good news that crime on the beat was down about 20% in 2009 compared to 2008.

Index crime (eight crime categories - homicide, criminal sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and battery, burglary, theft, car theft and arson) was down 19.4% in 2009 over 2008. Non-index crime was down 20.5%, and crime overall dropped 20.1% in 2009 compared to 2008. See this post for more details.

Police reported that the following were the Top 10 crimes on the beat in December 2009:

1. Domestic battery, simple -- 9
2. Simple battery -- 5
3. Simple assault -- 4
4. Burglary by orcible entry -- 4
5. Possession of 30 grams or less of cannabis -- 4
6. Criminal trespass to land -- 3
7. Possession of crack cocaine -- 3
8. Aggravated assault, dangerous weapon -- 2
9. Theft over $300 -- 2
10. Theft from building -- 2

There were 38 arrests in December. Police noted there were two arrests for robbery in the area. One person was arrested and charged with three robberies/muggings, while another juvenile was expected to be charged with up to 13 open robbery cases.

Some of the robberies occurred around the Lunt exit of the Morse El stop. And often, the perpetrators would target victims with iPhones. Police were hopeful these arrests would reduce the number of robberies in the area.

Cmdr. Michael Wick of the 24th District told attendees that a burglary bike mission team was working in the area.He also mentioned that an Area Three midnight Tactical Unit had begun operations. One mission was in response to a complaint at the November beat meeting from the owner of the Glenwood Bar about a patron being mugged. The team targeted the area and made an arrest for robbery.

Also, a narcotics arrest was made at Morse and Greenview after complaints of drug dealing at 6957 N. Greenview were made at the November beat meeting.

Bottom line: bring your crime problem to the beat meeting and police will give it top priority.

Two neighbors reported problems with drug dealing and general nuisance-making at 6812 N. Ashland. A resident noted there were almost 300 calls for service to that address in the last 18 months. It was suggested he work with Alderman Joe Moore and his office to arrange a meeting with the building owner, Willie Barker.

Under general announcements, we noted that the Morse Theater was due to reopen under new management and a new name: Mayne Stage and Act One Cafe.

The meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm. The February meeting is set for Monday, Feb. 8, a 7 pm at 1530 W. Morse.

New Year's resolution: Update this blog frequently with beat and neighborhood news

A new year, and a new decade begin with a New Year's resolution to do a much better job on posting beat and neighborhood news here. It won't be difficult to improve, since the last post was late in January in 2009.

So that is my resolve. Post more.

-Kevin O'Neil, Beat 2431 facilitator