McKinley Park neighborhood residents endured an almost 20 percent increase in index crime in 2023 compared to 2022. That steep growth in eight major crime types was higher than that experienced by the four neighborhoods surrounding McKinley Park.
Robberies in McKinley Park more than doubled, from 28 to 61, while motor vehicle thefts rose by 70 percent: from 60 to 102. Burglaries climbed by 32 percent, from 34 in 2022 to 45 in 2023. Notably, no neighborhood homicides were recorded in 2023, compared to five in 2022.
The McKinley Park News used the City of Chicago’s data portal to get statistics for eight common, so-called “index crimes” — homicide, assault, battery, robbery, burglary, theft, criminal sexual assault and motor vehicle theft.
Early Warning System
Alderwoman Julia Ramirez of the 12th Ward, which covers much of McKinley Park, said she would like to set up a system with the Chicago Police Department's 9th District to send alerts not just about shootings, but also about robberies and thefts.
“I think overall we need better communication,” Ramirez said.
Adjacent Neighborhood Crime
In surrounding neighborhoods, Bridgeport experienced a 6.5 percent increase in index crime comparing 2023 to 2022. Brighton Park neighborhood crime rose 11.4 percent.
Index crime in the Lower West Side, which includes the Pilsen neighborhood, went up 12.6 percent, while the New City Community Area, which includes the Canaryville and Back of the Yards neighborhoods, saw a 17.9 percent rise in index crime.
9th District Trend
Index crime in Chicago as a whole rose 10.7 percent. In Chicago, the homicide rate dropped 14 percent, with 624 victims in 2023 compared to 726 in 2022.
Overall in the 9th Police District, which contains McKinley Park, Brighton Park, Canaryville, Back of the Yards, Bridgeport and Chinatown neighborhoods, index crime rose 14 percent from 2022 to 2023.
Coronavirus Climb
Two crime categories showed the largest year-over-year increases in the 9th District: motor vehicle theft, rising 70 percent, and robberies, climbing 30 percent. Homicides in the 9th District dropped almost 25 percent, from 49 in 2022 to 37 in 2023.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020, index crime in McKinley Park has steadily increased. In 2020, there were 413 index crimes. In 2023 there were 709, accounting for a 72 percent overall increase.
The 9th Police District experienced a 41 percent increase in index crime when comparing the 5,523 crimes that occurred there in 2020 to the 7,776 crimes reported in 2023.
Robberies, Thefts, Burglaries
The year 2020 was the last when index crimes fell in McKinley Park, dropping 15 percent from 2019's totals. This decrease may be related to many people being homebound in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic.
Three types of index crimes grew the most in McKinley Park over the three years of 2020 to 2023: Robberies increased 154 percent, from 24 in 2020 to 61 in 2023; thefts climbed 90 percent, from 133 in 2020 to 233 in 2023; and burglaries rose 67 percent from 27 in 2020 top 43 in 2023.
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