Crime Rates Are Killing Businesses

Killing Businesses

Theft and robbery rates are up about 25%. Additionally, criminal sexual assault cases rose by 12% compared to last year around this time. Also, as the crime rates go up, it’s no wonder why many people are starting to fear going out to late-night activities like theaters or even mid-day activities like museums.

There was a study that was done by the City’s arts and culture industry and this report helped show the state of this situation and the decline of theater and museum-goers. Many factors other than crime rates are in play when it comes to the shortage of customers in these places. Some of those factors are a rise in ticket prices, smaller budgets being set, and a loss of sponsorships or exclusive funding.

Following that, The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Commissioner Erin Harkley, stated, “The process of making these businesses stable once again has been a struggle, and above all theaters have had it the worst I believe we need to focus on getting it back on its feet and back to being a tough sector.” But it’s obvious why theaters have taken the hardest hit out of all the other entrainment sectors. It is because they have the most acts during the night, which is when crime rates peak.

Jean Scott, a resident of Irving Park, said, “I lived in Chicago my whole life and always felt safe and comfortable but in the past years this has changed due to criminals becoming bold and dangerous and the police force being busy with other problems. I fear what might happen if I go out at all.”

But there is hope for theaters and museums. The DCASE report showed a slim increase in staff size of small and medium-budget institutions.

Crimes that happened at businesses

With the rising crime rates, many entertainment areas haven’t been safe or already had crime happen in them. Some examples are two news reports about cases that happened in Chicago theaters.

The first report was two men in custody after they fired shots during a fight in a movie theater at Roosevelt and Delano Court. Police officers say during the altercation there were more than 700 people in the theater.

What happened according to the police report is two men started arguing outside the theater and then moved up using an escalator, then started to fight each other near the ticket booth. As they were fighting, one pulled a gun and shot seven times in the air. Thankfully, no one was injured by the shots.

A resident who lives in the apartments above the movie theater recorded the police officers taking the two men into custody, but their faces were blurred out because they hadn’t been charged yet. Another bystander who was watching a movie during the incident said the staff evacuated everyone and told them to stay in the lobby till it was considered safe. They additionally stated, “The staff told us to stay in the lobby until the situation calmed down. I didn’t even know what was happening.”

Additional Incidents

And that was just one of many crimes that happened in theaters. Another crime that occurred was an armed carjacking in Woodridge. There were four victims who were robbed and carjacked at gunpoint during the night in a movie theater parking lot. The victims said four robbers instructed them to give up their phones, cash, and car keys to their black car.

There hasn’t been an arrest in that case, so if anyone has information about the situation, call the Woodridge police at (630) 719-4703.

By Samuel Cruz

Sources:

Chicago Sun-Times: Crime rates is hurting attendance at theaters, arts venues

Chicago Sun-Times: Post-pandemic ‘crisis’ in Chicago’s cultural arts scene is real, new report finds

ABC 7: 2 in custody after shots fired during altercation inside South Loop movie theater: Chicago police

Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Ben Schumin’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

Inset Image Courtesy of artistmac’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License