Neighborhood Safety

Call 911 IMMEDIATELY TO REPORT CRIME OR SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING:

  • Crime in progress
  • Suspicious person.  Could be in a parked car (street or alley)
  • Someone checking out houses, yards or cars   
  • ANYONE at your door with a scam or sob story requesting money.   
  • An unknown group gathering
  • Cars speeding or “racing” on a street or alley  – get plate number if possible

REPORT ALL CRIME: Police analyze arrests, incidents and patterns.

REPORT ALL GRAFFITI:  Use the Chicago Works app.  Photo graffiti and report using the 311 app.  Apply anti-graffiti coating to tempting surfaces.

LOOK OUT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS:  Make new friends.  Check on each other.  Look at their house, yard and the street.  Help shovel.  Clear newspapers and flyers. 

LINE OF SIGHT:  Don’t obscure home entry points behind a privacy fence, shrubs or trees.  Eliminate hiding spots by trimming landscaping.  No items of value should be visible through a vehicle, home or garage window.

PORCH LIGHTS ON DUSK TO DAWN: Have a bright porch light and rear entry light on every night from dusk to dawn.  Add motion activated lights to your rear and side yards.  Report street or alley lights out.

DON’T LEAVE YOUR HOUSE DARK: Someone on the side walk, in the alley or at your door should think you’re home. Have 1 -2 interior lights visible from the street on timers from dusk to bedtime.

CREATE A PHONE TREE:  Neighbors on four sides.  Call it immediately after calling 911.

ALWAYS SECURE YOUR HOUSE, APARTMENT AND GARAGE:  Use ventilation locks on 1st and 2nd floor windows.  Lock your door when you’re gardening, raking, shoveling.   Re-lock when you come inside.  Lock bikes inside your garage and make sure they aren’t visible through a window. Install and use alarms and video.

SECURE YOUR BELONGINGS: Financial records, computers, jewelry, bicycles, ladders etc.

STREET SMARTS:  Don’t advertise – Don’t show ear buds or phone.  Be aware, not distracted.

VEHICLE SMARTS:  Don’t leave ANY personal item visible in your vehicle.  Lock your vehicle while driving.

SHOVEL SNOW: Cleaned sidewalks, walkways, steps and porches say OCCUPIED and make for safer passage.

PHOTOGRAPH AND INVENTORY YOUR PROPERTY:  Keep a copy of your inventory off site.  Inscribe your driver’s license number on electronics.  Register bikes at www.chicagopolice.org.

ATTEND GWCA (Graceland West Community Association) and Beat 1912 CAPS meetings.

CONTACTS:

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