CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — In its end-of-year review on crime in 2023, the Chicago Police Department reported declines in murders, shootings and shooting victims across the city — while the number of robberies and motor vehicle thefts jumped from 2022.
CPD credited its staff, as well as partnerships with residents, community groups and faith-based organizations for the progress made regarding gun violence and homicides, both of which were down to their lowest levels since 2019.
The official numbers show a 13% citywide drop in murders from 2022 to 2023, with double-digit declines in the following CPD districts: District 22, which includes Morgan Park; District 2, which includes Fuller Park; District 5, which includes Pullman; District 10 on the Southwest Side; District 9, which includes Deering; District 14, which includes Logan Square; and District 18, which includes the Near North Side.
According to the department's report, Districts 3, 7, 8, 11 and 25 all saw increases in murders. Those areas include: Greater Grand Crossing, Englewood, Chicago Lawn, Harrison and Belmont Cragin.
Officers recovered over 12,000 guns from Chicago's streets in 2023, including over 1,000 assault weapons, the latter of which was nearly 15% more than the department recovered in 2022. CPD detectives also cleared the most homicides since 2019, officials said.
As for robberies and motor vehicle thefts, the former rose 23% from 8,982 in 2022 to 11,051 in 2023. The latter increased 37% from 21,370 in 2022 to 29,287 in 2023.
CPD's Area 5 — which encompasses Logan Square, Jefferson Park, Albany Park and Belmont Cragin — saw the biggest percent increase in both robberies and motor vehicle thefts. Nearly 1,950 robberies were reported in the area in 2023, up from 1,124 in 2022. As for vehicle thefts, those increased by over 1,500 cases, from 2,753 in 2022 to 4,261.
Regarding the number of actual robberies and motor vehicle thefts committed, though, Area 1, which includes parts of the South and Southwest Sides, saw more than any other part of the city. Police said 2,671 robberies took place in 2023 — a 10% increase — and 8,502 motor vehicle thefts were committed — a 46% increase.
The report also paid respect to two officers who were killed in the line of duty: Officer Andrés Mauricio Vasquez Lasso and Officer Aréanah Preston. Officials said they will "never forget the sacrifice these officers made and will ensure their legacies live on."
Find the full report here.
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