Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s stay-at-home order that went into effect on March 21 appears to have had at least one positive side effect – Chicago’s rampant crime rate has dropped dramatically.
Jeremy Gorner of the Chicago Tribune reports, “Despite beginning 2020 with crime spikes, particularly related to gun violence, Chicago saw a sudden single-week drop of nearly 20% in major crimes in mid-March …”
Along with Chicago, New York City and other major cities hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic have all seen a fall in their crime rates since ‘stay in place’ orders took effect. New York saw a 9% increase in overall crime from March 9-15 but then a drop by 17% after the mayor ordered ‘stay in place’.
Chicago authorities have not officially attributed the city’s lower crime rate to the pandemic but Mayor Lori Lightfoot acknowledged at a City Hall News Conference last week, “when large congregations of people are outside in neighborhoods where gun violence is prevalent that increases the risk.”
But for now, one of Chicago’s most violent areas, the West Side, saw seven days without even one shooting and the affluent North side had a sharp decrease in thefts.
Watch the video to get more information on how dramatically crime stats are dropping. And learn what crime experts warn is likely to increase the longer stay at home restrictions remain in effect.
