Executive Summary
- Residents met with CPD 12th District officers to discuss safety following a daylight armed robbery.
- Fulton Market Association is advocating for the installation of 50 new police pod cameras.
- Official data records 72 violent crimes in the Near West Side as of February 13 this year.
- Comparative analysis shows a 27% decrease in violent crime from 2024 to 2025.
Residents and business owners in Chicago’s Fulton Market District convened with officers from the Chicago Police Department’s (CPD) 12th District on Thursday night to address escalating public safety concerns following a violent armed robbery in the area. The meeting, driven by community demand for answers, focused on strategies to mitigate crimes ranging from vehicular break-ins to armed confrontations in the Near West Side neighborhood.
According to attendees, the urgency of the gathering was precipitated by a recent incident involving an armed crew robbing a man in broad daylight last week. The crime, which was captured on video, has heightened anxiety among locals. Lisa Miller, who works in the district, emphasized the unpredictable nature of the threat to reporters, stating, "You can never be too safe, whether it’s broad daylight, 2:30 in the afternoon, or 2:30 a.m." Miller noted that the presence of officers at the meeting demonstrated a commitment to investigating crimes and improving neighborhood security.
Roger Romanelli, Executive Director of the Fulton Market Association, outlined a specific proposal to enhance surveillance capabilities in the district. Romanelli is advocating for the installation of 50 new police "pod" cameras to create a comprehensive monitoring network. "We want a network of cameras down here; state of art. So, if you’re a criminal you come down here you know you know you’re going to be on camera and you know you’re going to get caught," Romanelli stated. The association is reportedly calling on the local alderman to facilitate this infrastructure expansion.
Data cited by CBS News Chicago provides context to the crime rates in the Near West Side, which includes Fulton Market. As of February 13, the area has recorded 72 violent crimes this year, a figure that includes 21 robberies, two homicides, nine sexual assaults, and 40 aggravated assaults and batteries. However, long-term data presented in the report indicates a downward trend, noting 771 violent crimes in 2025 compared to 1,055 in 2024, representing a 27% decrease.
Public Safety Infrastructure
The dialogue between Fulton Market stakeholders and law enforcement highlights a critical intersection between statistical crime trends and public perception of safety. While the data suggests a year-over-year reduction in total violent crime volume, high-visibility incidents such as daylight armed robberies often drive immediate policy demands. The community’s push for a dense network of high-definition surveillance cameras represents a strategic shift toward technological deterrence and rapid forensic capability to supplement traditional police patrols in commercial corridors.
Authorities emphasize that the investigation into the recent robbery is active and police are searching for the suspects involved. It is important to note that any individuals eventually charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
