urbanSTL

I'm wondering if crime is controlled more easily or less easily when race is factored into the solution?

Furthermore, what are the factors?

I would think you could use a map of St. Louis city - think SafeCity Incident Mapping - and track various crimes over a given period. You could then use the same map and same time period to track various other factors to discern statistical correlations. Income, # of people in a household, pet owners, own vs. rent, race, other types of crime; basically, any demographical data. I can't imagine crime prevention is so unique that one couldn't than take the data set I've suggested and compare it against data from other cities to derive proven techniques of eliminating certain types of crime.

I truly wonder if our Police use any statical data to control crime? Giuliani and the NYPD used this type of data driven, statiscal approach to crime prevention with great success.

Would anyone have any suggested reading on this topic?

SLMPD uses a similar statistical tracking system to what NYPD made us of. Chief Isom was actually the guy that was running that before he was promoted.

http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010 ... ed-robbed/

Has anyone heard that this is one of three incidents in the area surrounding Wash U.?

I hadn't heard of other rapes or assaults. I heard that there is a possibility that there could be a serial rapist.

It is obvious that this student should of used better judgement, but I do not want her to take any blame. Was it dumb, yes, should it be accepted and understood that a person cannot walk in the area after midnight, without fear of becoming a victim,
h*ll no!!!!

A student was assaulted in the basement of her apt building north of the Loop a few months ago. A student was raped in one of the dorms a year or two ago. Are these the incidents you're thinking of?

^I am not sure. I heard from a friend that goes there, that there is talk circulating around campus, that this could be a serial rapist. No official word, no clue what other rapes have occurred. Maybe there are just a lot of bad people roaming those areas, knowing their odds are high, in finding worthy victims, who knows.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.as ... yid=200973

Another crime on the campus of Washington University. That is very bold, considering there was a crime the night before in the area. I am sure the rape the night before had security beefed up, yet a criminal thug made it on campus and robbed 2 students at gunpoint. I really think this summer is going to be a bad one for crime. The thugs are out in full force, now that the weather is getting nicer. Batten down the hatches!!!! This summer is going to be a rough one!

^I seem to recall hearing the last two springs that "crime is gonna be real bad this summer". And I don't remember it being nearly as bad as everyone predicted. Maybe the warmer temps do bring out more criminals, but they also bring out more of everyone. So are your odds of being a victim of random crime any worse in summer? I have my doubts.

^I seem to recall hearing the last two springs that "crime is gonna be real bad this summer". And I don't remember it being nearly as bad as everyone predicted. Maybe the warmer temps do bring out more criminals, but they also bring out more of everyone. So are your odds of being a victim of random crime any worse in summer? I have my doubts.

For me, it is not about the overall crime stats. It is the fact that the crimes seem more violent, more 'gun-related' crimes, car jackings & armed robberies. The fact that these crimes seem more violent in nature is not the only thing I've noticed. Being a lifelong south city resident, I've noticed an uptick in these types of crimes in areas you don't normally see them occur, so called 'safe' or 'quiet' neighborhoods. The fact that you don't hear about a particular crime in the news, does not mean they are not happening constantly. Being good friends with several policeman, gives me access to info I wouldn't normally hear about. It is amazing how much stuff goes unreported. A long time dispatcher I know told me she used to fill up a few pages a night with calls/reports, now she has an entire book on most nights. I am not trying to make things seem way worse than reality or over-dramatize the situation, but things are not as good as some in the SLPD want you to think.

^Even if the stats reflect crime down or the same, seeing them happening in areas where you do not normally see them and haven't seen them much in a lifetime, is an
eye-opener for sure. I have seen car-jackings in my neighborhood, armed robberies and other crimes not seen before, in those areas. Last fall a local grade school teacher was car jacked in the school parking lot at 715 am. She was lightly assaulted and her car was taken. Never made the news. Same area, paper delivery guy shot and robbed at gunpoint. That made the news. I have lived in south city for 35 years and never remember this stuff being this prevalent. Just my opinion, no stats to back it up, just experience living in an area.

^I know you were not questioning me necessarily, just wanting stats. My only point was that I have personally noticed certain types of crimes in my area, more so than in the past. Whether is is because they are making the news more, I hear more from cop buddies or whatever, it seems more prevalent. Whether it is or not, who knows.

DOGTOWNB&R wrote:

^I seem to recall hearing the last two springs that "crime is gonna be real bad this summer". And I don't remember it being nearly as bad as everyone predicted. Maybe the warmer temps do bring out more criminals, but they also bring out more of everyone. So are your odds of being a victim of random crime any worse in summer? I have my doubts.

For me, it is not about the overall crime stats. It is the fact that the crimes seem more violent, more 'gun-related' crimes, car jackings & armed robberies. The fact that these crimes seem more violent in nature is not the only thing I've noticed. Being a lifelong south city resident, I've noticed an uptick in these types of crimes in areas you don't normally see them occur, so called 'safe' or 'quiet' neighborhoods. The fact that you don't hear about a particular crime in the news, does not mean they are not happening constantly. Being good friends with several policeman, gives me access to info I wouldn't normally hear about. It is amazing how much stuff goes unreported. A long time dispatcher I know told me she used to fill up a few pages a night with calls/reports, now she has an entire book on most nights. I am not trying to make things seem way worse than reality or over-dramatize the situation, but things are not as good as some in the SLPD want you to think.

A lot of police (and others) will tell you that crime increases when there is a full moon. It's complete nonsense, of course.

Alex Ihnen wrote:

DOGTOWNB&R wrote:For me, it is not about the overall crime stats. It is the fact that the crimes seem more violent, more 'gun-related' crimes, car jackings & armed robberies. The fact that these crimes seem more violent in nature is not the only thing I've noticed. Being a lifelong south city resident, I've noticed an uptick in these types of crimes in areas you don't normally see them occur, so called 'safe' or 'quiet' neighborhoods.

On matters of crime, like many other facets of life, we tend to always think things are getting worse and look back on the past--even recent past--as times when crime wasn't as bad or bold or whatever. And I don't mean to discount the crimes that occured last fall in Dogtown but was it any "better" in 1995 when two Wash U. students were shot, one fatally, in a carjacking near Clayton and Tamm intersection? A few months later someone tossed a concrete block off the Tamm Ave. overpass killing a woman driving on Highway 40. Now I know the latter was more along the lines of a stupid prank gone horribly wrong, but still even then it was said that we were seeing crimes in areas we didn't see them before. And Dogtown is still a great neighborhood now 15 yrs. later.

I'm not saying we should discount any crimes that are occuring now just saying we should put it all into perspective. Sure we have crimes today that are senseless and brutal, but we had them yesterday as well. And while we need to be vigilant in preventing crimes and punishing those who committ them they will still occur from time to time and don't necessarily mean that we should fear tomorrow.

A lot of police (and others) will tell you that crime increases when there is a full moon. It's complete nonsense, of course.

When I talk to cop friends, they are not making generalizations. If that was the case, I'd go with your theory about the moon in this case. The crimes I am referring to, are specific and detailed in nature. I am not hearing them say'crime is bad, hide in your basement', then posting on this thread. I hear things like ' there were 2 jackings on so and so street last night' or 'there was a home invasion on so and so street last night'. When I hear about certain things in areas that are not typically 'bad' areas, it is a bit discouraging and p*sses you off. By no means am I making a call to arms or freaking out. My original point was, I am seeing and hearing about more violent crimes in 'safe' areas, than I can remember in the past. Whether that perception is accurately reflected in the stats, not sure, the stats wont lie.
Southside, I agree, violent crime is nothing new, just gets frustrating to hear about violent crimes, when we here in the City our doing our best to promote city living and keep perceptions positive.

*On a positive note, my new next door neighbors are moving in next week. They moved to the City from Kirkwood. They got a 'better value' on a home in the City.

I agree, it is discouraging. Like last summer when 4 teens went around robbing and assaulting people by Francis Park. Is there not a safer place in the entire city than around Francis Park?

Fortunately, incidents like this are rare, and the occasional robbery/home invasion occurs even in the nice parts of the county too. I feel perfectly safe in my neighborhood. A lot of that has to do with friendly neighbors, a lack of a "no snitch" policy, eyes on the street, and crime statistics.

I don't think I missed the point, I got it. I said it 'seems' that way, not that it is a fact that crimes are trending upward or crime is getting worse statistically speaking. I said the stats 'may' reflect differently that the way it seems or feels. My previous response was to those who feel cops think crime is always getting worse because they see it every day. True! However, speaking of specific crimes, is different from saying crime will increase tonight, due to a full moon (embellishment by a cop) I wouldn't say there is enough violent crime to call it a trend. Just enough, to catch my attention more than normal.

Moving on to another topic....

I wonder if the armed robbery at Wash U. is related to one that occurred a few months ago near Turtle Park. A guy was robbed at gunpoint leaving Pat's Bar & Grill On Oakland, near closing time. I believe he parked in that lot near Turtle park. It was a very similiar type ambush robbery, fairly close proximity to Wash U.
Just an observation.....