South Loop Residents Fed Up, Demand Action to Address Rising Crime, Vagrancy

Chicago’s South Loop community insists Police address safety issues in high-traffic areas

Site of smash and grab robbery in South LoopPhoto byScreen Capture/Youtube Video [Creator]

CHICAGO SOUTH LOOP - "We're fed up. We've had enough," said one South Loop community member at a meeting held at Capital One Cafe on State Street where residents took their concerns directly to police officers. They told the officers that they are sick and tired of the crime and vagrancy that occurs in the neighborhood, especially in high traffic areas. The complained that loitering and the "wide open illegal drug sales" near the Roosevelt Red Line for example is out of control. The meeting drew a large crowd of concerned locals who demanded more decisive and effective action to address increasing vagrancy, crime, and public safety issues.

The Central (1st) District of the CPD, responsible for policing the area, hosted the meeting in response to the growing concerns. The district’s officers, along with representatives from the 34th Ward, listened as residents detailed the issues plaguing their community. However, despite the urgency of the matter, the meeting was marked by limited media access; Capital One Bank, which hosted the event, declined to allow CBS News Chicago’s cameras inside.

Recent reports indicate that aggressive loitering and street harassment have significantly increased, particularly in the areas around Wabash Avenue and Roosevelt Road. These locations, including the bustling Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Red Line stop, have become focal points for community concern. According to residents, the situation has deteriorated to the point where they no longer feel safe in their own neighborhood.

While Roosevelt may be the main thoroughfare most people travel and where a lot of crime takes place, residents emphasized that the problem is spread throughout the entire South Loop, mentioning the smash and grab that occured at a clothing store on East 21st Street Wed. morning in the South Loop as an example.

Beyond the loitering and harassment, residents have experienced a significant uptick in property crimes. In one incident earlier this week, Tiffani Faison, a South Loop resident, discovered that her car windows had been shattered overnight, leaving broken glass scattered across the sidewalk. Faison’s experience is not isolated; at least six other vehicles on Calumet Avenue were similarly vandalized on the same night.

“We’re starting to feel targeted,” Faison remarked, expressing her frustration over the repeated incidents of vandalism. The rash of vehicle break-ins follows reports of more serious crimes, including a recent garage robbery that took place just a few blocks south of the affected area. Residents have since been on high alert, taking extra precautions when entering their garages.

The rising crime rate has prompted South Loop residents to demand that the Chicago Police Department (CPD) increase its presence and enhance security measures across the neighborhood. At the community meeting, several residents expressed their discontent with the current situation, emphasizing that their patience is wearing thin.

Police said that as they work on the problem, residents must continue to call 911 for every incident they encounter. They also suggested that the community unite and form a stronger neighborhood watch program insisting that programs like that make a difference.