Crime and arrests were up last year in River Forest

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Homicide marks an unusual year for the village

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 4:54 PM

Updated: Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 1:10 PM

By Devin Rose

Staff Reporter

Click here to see the full report from the River Forest police department.

An 18 percent increase in reported crimes in River Forest from 2010 to last year included more burglaries, criminal trespass and damage to property incidents and motor vehicle thefts.

But despite increases in some categories, Deputy Police Chief Craig Rutz said he thought the crime rate has mostly been consistent in his 30 years with the department, and the village is in the best shape it's been in "maybe in my whole career."

Though he said he's heard talk that crime has gone down nationally, "I personally don't see that," Rutz said, adding that he thought crime has gotten a bit more violent.

In 2011, River Forest saw a jump in the more serious offenses, known as "part one," from 292 to 333. The 2011 total of part-one offenses consisted of 61 burglaries, up from 43 in 2010, and 77 burglaries from vehicles, up from 55 in 2010. Vehicle thefts were up to 7 from 4 the previous year. There was one homicide in 2011, up from zero in 2010.

The biggest category of part-two offenses accounted for misdemeanors, most of which were traffic violations, Rutz said. That category increased from 626 in 2010 to 763 in 2011.

Arrests were also up, which Rutz attributed to the department's aggressive and dedicated officers. Instead of taking reports, they spend more time to look for and eventually arrest offenders, Rutz said. In 2011, there were 858 arrests of adults and juveniles in both offense categories, which was more than the 712 arrests in 2010.

River Forest 2011 crime report

Reader Comments

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rez

Posted: Monday, January 30th, 2012 8:52 PM

For a long time I've heard River Forest residents smugly talk about Oak Park being a buffer between them and criminal elements from Austin. Looks like these days River Forest is acting like the buffer between Oak Park and the criminal elements from Maywood.

Sean Ristau

Posted: Sunday, January 29th, 2012 10:57 AM

Typo, meant to say- Great work River Forest Police, proud to say I think each and everyone of you does a knockout job.

Sean Ristau

Posted: Sunday, January 29th, 2012 10:56 AM

Great work River Forest Police, proud to say I think you each and everyone of you does a knockout job.

Han D

Posted: Saturday, January 28th, 2012 2:13 PM

ugh. This is very poorly reported. If crime is getting more violent why don't the numbers back up his claim? The single homicide was an anomaly and having 5 more crimes over 12 months that would be considered "violent" is hardly a huge increase. Why not compare these numbers as a percentage of population to Oak Park, Elmwood Park and other communities to give context as to how crime really is. It would also a good idea to inform the public if these numbers are arrests or convictions.

Violet Aura

Posted: Saturday, January 28th, 2012 11:28 AM

Well, let me pose the question: why do y'all think this is so?

Colors

Posted: Friday, January 27th, 2012 10:03 PM

i know how much you like to comment on anything crime related. in yo town

Violet Aura

Posted: Friday, January 27th, 2012 4:50 PM

@Colors: Naming yourself after that gang pic in the '80s? Stay classy...Why even bring me into this?

Colors

Posted: Friday, January 27th, 2012 4:16 PM

Did some one tell Violet about this?

Concerned Citizen from Oak Park

Posted: Friday, January 27th, 2012 12:53 PM

I don't know how to use emo-cons to indicate sarcasm.

OP Guy

Posted: Friday, January 27th, 2012 12:04 PM

I'm an intellectual, I don't do sarcasm.

Concerned Citizen from Oak Park

Posted: Friday, January 27th, 2012 11:58 AM

It's called sarcasm.

OP Guy

Posted: Thursday, January 26th, 2012 8:51 PM

Concerned Citizen from Oak Park, do you really think the decrease in crime has anything to do with the lifting of the handgun ban? Considering crime has been steadily decreasing annually since the 90s? Interesting logic.

Concerned Citizen from Oak Park

Posted: Thursday, January 26th, 2012 10:56 AM

Oak Park's crime rate decreased while River Forest's is up? Oak Park no longer has a handgun ban. Maybe it's time for you "west siders" to rearm. How about a gun shop on Lake Street?

REALITY from OP

Posted: Thursday, January 26th, 2012 5:32 AM

Finally some crime truth. Hard to believe Oak Park's crime rate could decrease to lowest level in decades while RF has gone up. Deputy Police Chief Rutz says he "doesn't see" crime having gone down and in fact is more violent. Wonder what his take is on Oak Park's so called "crime rate".

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