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Authored by: Gregory Norton, True Crime Expert

The Democratic National Convention to be hosted in Chicago this forthcoming August has more than just political tensions to worry about. The escalating crime rate in the city is casting a foreboding shadow over the prestigious civic event. The city administration’s negligible progress in controlling the rampant lawbreaking is almost alarming.

The much-debated issue isn’t external political protests but the city’s internal lawlessness. Chicago’s relentless crime climbs the nation’s ladder, notably for homicides, making the city unignorably turbulent. There has been a streak of high-profile, violent crimes, such as an audacious robbery spree. A gang of armed miscreants managed to rob eight businesses within an astounding span of 45 minutes, highlighting the fearlessness of criminal elements.

While certain figures suggest a decline, the reality is more disconcerting. In 2024, major crimes decreased by 12% compared to last year’s post-pandemic surge. However, this signals little cause for celebration, as the rest of the data paints a gloomier picture. Violent crimes, like robbery and aggravated battery, have worsened when compared to the previous year, portraying a city trapped in a crime vortex.

The number of victims of violent crimes in Chicago has hit an unsettling high for this year, with over 7,500 victimized by April 5th, marking a terrible record. The city’s homicide count remains a dark concern. Even with a 5% drop from the previous year, the figure is still a staggering 26% higher than in 2019, exposing the gripping hold of crime over the city.

The shrinking homicide rates fall short when contrasted with larger cities such as Phoenix that saw a dramatic 39% decrease. Similarly, Philadelphia and New York noted 37% and 17% dips respectively. Against these comparisons, Chicago’s crime condition emerges as a severe outlier.

Reflecting upon 2019, the last ‘normal’ year before the pandemic struck and George Floyd’s incident sparked nationwide unrest, the escalation of crime rates is stark. Major crimes have risen by a whopping 38%. Motor vehicle thefts have skyrocketed more than 165%, while robberies and murders have also seen a significant uptick, up 27% and 26% respectively.

The inability to quell these rampant crimes paints a gloomy picture for Chicago officials as they prepare to host the Democratic National Convention. While political dynamics like the Israeli/Palestinian conflict may capture their attention, the city’s violence and crime pose a more immediate and formidable challenge. As such, the nation’s attention in August might be diverted from political speeches to Chicago’s incredibly high stakes struggle with its crime wave.

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