Per his Twitter account, UrbanCincy was mugged Friday night at Court & Vine. Not sure what time it occurred, but he and his companion weren't physically hurt.

 

 

^Isn't that where people park to go to Hamburger Marys? There are always shady people wandering around that parking lot and intersection at night.

It's along the Court Street corridor, and around the library. D1 has posted a notice or something to that effect not long ago about the spike in incidents in that area, accumulating partially with the owner of the store along Court (can't remember the name) who is leaving after being robbed twice in as many months. Had a friend who was mugged along 7th by the library a few weeks ago, and the log paints a larger issue in that area that is staginating in terms of development and investment.

 

Since I was nearly mugged in that area last month, I've made a point to carry bear mace that projects a much larger distance and at a wider angle.

^ What does nearly mean? Either you were or wasn't.. lol

^ What does nearly mean? Either you were or wasn't.. lol

 

That's the first thing I thought as well.

When you have three people eyeing you and moving towards your direction in haste, that's not a good sign. Time to move along quickly (I ducked into Hamburger Mary's).

Court and Vine is growing into a problem corner at night.  It is a corner with no eyes on the street except for a bus stop.  There is a vacant space on the SW corner, the crappy eyeglass store at the SE corner and Kroger buildings at both of the north corners.  The Kroger building has security guards in their lobby, but they generally don't venture outside. It is the darkest corner between downtown and the Gateway Quarter.  Court Street by it's nature is pretty vacant at night.

I've honestly never been mugged or "nearly mugged".  In OTR or Downtown.  Corryville or Clifton Heights.  Perhaps it's because of my height?  I don't know.  Either I'm doing something right or I'm lucky.  Also, I never had my car broken into...when I had a car.

 

Tips or secrets?  I couldn't tell you mine.  I don't have any, other than to be alert at all times, and don't look like you're distracted.

 

I do wear hoodies though.  Perhaps people think I could pack something in them, so they don't approach me maliciously?

Yeah, I've been mugged bastard is now serving time in jail.  I was mugged in Avondale at 4 PM in the afternoon on a Sunday.

Mugged means you were assaulted too right? I was robbed in Obryonville  once buy a knife but was not touch by the guy.

On Wednesday, December 2, 2009, at approximately 6:40 pm, a student reported being robbed at gunpoint in the C-2 parking lot. Taken during the offense were the student's wallet, i-pod and vehicle, a 2008 tan Jeep Patriot. The suspect was described as a heavy set male, 6'1", wearing blue jeans, a grey sweatshirt and a partial ski mask. Xavier, Cincinnati and Norwood Police are currently investigating the theft.

 

UPDATE: On Thursday, December 3, 2009, at 9:50 am, Xavier Police Officers spotted the stolen vehicle travelling east-bound on Dana Avenue near Trimble. After a short chase, several suspects bailed from the moving vehicle and are at large at this time. The suspects were described as 4 males, 16-20 years of age, 5'7" - 5'10", medium build wearing dark clothing. The vehicle was recovered by Xavier Police and returned to the student. Xavier Police would like to remind the Xavier Community to report any suspicious person or activities by calling 745-1000 or 911.

^ Jeez, at that age they aren't even real criminals. They're just thugging because thugging is portrayed as cool.

56th homicide of the year, but at this point last year, we were at 73! A great improvement! http://bit.ly/4zNVkW

^ Jeez, at that age they aren't even real criminals. They're just thugging because thugging is portrayed as cool.

 

16-20 years of age? Maybe if they were 12-16. Most of the scumbags that decide to carjack at ages 16-20 have rap sheets longer than the drive between Cincy and Columbus.

^ Jeez, at that age they aren't even real criminals. They're just thugging because thugging is portrayed as cool.

 

16-20 years of age? Maybe if they were 12-16. Most of the scumbags that decide to carjack at ages 16-20 have rap sheets longer than the drive between Cincy and Columbus.

 

Yep, at that age, I knew full-well what was going on in this thing called life.

^That drive isn't bad at all MayDay, just take a little nappy nap between the Franklin county line and Mason. Works wonders.

 

Hmmm...Cincinnati. Had my Dodge Neon broken into in Northside in '97, ripped the steering column clean open. Too bad they didn't steal it. That's the only time I've been victim of a crime in CHI, ATL, Orlando or Cincy.

 

 

Per his Twitter account, UrbanCincy was mugged Friday night at Court & Vine. Not sure what time it occurred, but he and his companion weren't physically hurt.

 

Yes, I was held up at gun point with the girl I was with as we were walking back towards 7th Street from Lavomatic.  We probably could have been paying better attention, but we were more shocked than anything that a guy would pull a gun on us around 11:30pm in a location with people out and about.

 

There were about a half dozen people at the bus stop a half block north, and a slew of people hanging around Hamburger Mary's about a block south.  We were later informed that someone (probably from the bus stop), called the police right away.  CPD was very quick to respond and may even have a lead on the case.

 

I will be writing about my experience in-depth soon, but in the mean time, the girl I was with wrote about it on her blog which can be read here: http://arecycledbin.blogspot.com/2009/11/only-thing-we-have-to-fear.html.  We are both very comfortable in the city, and will not be deterred by this, but it was definitely one of those moments that makes you take a step back and reexamine things.  Aside from her losing her purse, and everything inside of it, we lost nothing else than our nerves for a brief time.

Glad to hear you and her are okay... That really sucks. Even worse than the loss of any material possessions is that sense of being violated.

 

I guess I've been pretty lucky so far... I've lived in questionable neighborhoods in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City. I've only been a victim of violent crime once in my life so far, though, and that happened on the grounds of a country club in  Florida. Go figure.

 

That said, I've had far more close calls with potentially violent people/situations here in NYC than I've had anywhere else. Probably a big factor in why I'm so burned-out with this city.

Cincinnati plans multi-million dollar surveillance camera system

By Randy A. Simes, UrbanCincy | November 18, 2009

http://www.urbancincy.com/2009/11/cincinnati-plans-multi-million-dollar.html

 

The City of Cincinnati, in combination with the Uptown Consortium, has announced that 14 new high-tech surveillance cameras will be installed in various locations throughout Downtown (8) and Uptown (6). The cameras are being touted by local officials and community leaders as being a 21st Century crime fighting tool that should make Cincinnati a safer place.

 

The $19,000/piece cameras are not going to stop at this initial installation, that is expected to be fully operational within the coming months, as officials will have another dozen installed throughout East Price Hill and Westwood along Glenway Avenue by summer. An additional 12 to 15 cameras will be installed to monitor bridges, piers and waterways. Two years from now, officials hope to have 50 to 60 cameras installed across the city in other neighborhoods like Over-the-Rhine, Avondale, College Hill and Northside in addition to those in Downtown, Westwood, East Price Hill, Clifton Heights, University Heights, Fairview, Corryville, and Clifton.

 

Public safety officials often proclaim that these types of cameras have the ability to deter crime and make neighborhoods safer, when in fact they don't. Cameras simply move criminal activity around much like citronella candles keep bugs away from your backyard barbecue.

 

The cameras were paid for by a $2 million federal grant, but what about the ongoing maintenance? Who is going to watch the live video stream, or will someone? Who is going to review the tapes? What will be reviewed? What about archiving...how long, how much, where, and who manages it? What is the City going to actually do with all this information?

 

It would seem to be logical to assume that the primary use, for the cameras, will be for building cases against those who have already committed crimes. So, once again, how is this making the city safer? Instead it would seem that the cameras would just make prosecution more effective in some cases. But at the same time, I would imagine the criminals will be smart enough to see the bright white and prominently branded cameras (image) and move their operations just outside the cone of view.

 

So then what, do we install more cameras...cameras on every street corner? Who will pay for that kind of an operation, and are Cincinnatians accepting of this Big Brother kind of a move? In New York they are in the process of installing some 3,000 cameras that will be fully operational by 2010. The costs of New York's system is pegged at $90 million with a $25 million surveillance center in the project's first phase in lower Manhattan.

 

The London Evening Standard just reported that even with London's impressive array of more than 10,000 CCTV cameras, the most expansive system of its kind anywhere, that roughly 80 percent of crimes go unsolved. The $334+ million system not only is not solving the core issues surrounding the need for individuals to result to criminal behavior, but the system is not even showing effectiveness in the one area it is suppose to shine.

 

This approach to crime fighting seems to be a reactionary way to manage complex criminal behavior. More money should be spent on identifying the causes behind individuals resulting to criminal behavior, and how to address that. Instead what we're doing is spending $2 million on a project that at best will put more non-violent criminals behind bars or at least through our legal system, and at worst, become cumbersome to manage and prove ineffective much like London's advanced Big Brother system.

 

View interactive maps of the camera locations here:

http://www.urbancincy.com/2009/11/cincinnati-plans-multi-million-dollar.html

Two radios stolen from the same car - both times parked roughly at the corner of Bishop and Ludlow in Clifton. The second happened in less than 15 minutes while I stopped in at Fries - new windows both times. After that the car went without a radio and I lost a little bit of patience with that half of Clifton - moved to the other side of the 'hood.

Cincinnati plans multi-million dollar surveillance camera system

By Randy A. Simes, UrbanCincy | November 18, 2009

 

 

I've spotted a few cameras in uptown already, notable the one on W. Daniels I'm looking out my window at from the Niehoff Studio right now.  Are these a prodcut of this grant?  They're two standard looking security cameras looking down the street and down an alley.  So on one block of W. Daniels Street and one part of the alley between it and University.. there will be very little crime.  The next block over as seen a string of very violent muggings/beatings the past week, though.

Cameras are the easy sell but I'm not too sure they are going to offer what Cincinnati really needs to deter crime.  Need a stronger commitment to Comstatand and more aggressive recidivism deterrent policies not cameras.  Crime needs to be attacked as part of an integrated social policy.

Two radios stolen from the same car - both times parked roughly at the corner of Bishop and Ludlow in Clifton. The second happened in less than 15 minutes while I stopped in at Fries - new windows both times. After that the car went without a radio and I lost a little bit of patience with that half of Clifton - moved to the other side of the 'hood.

 

Do you remove your faceplate?

The first time it was in the glove compartment and the second I didn't - the whole lightning striking twice thing.

59th homicide of 2009; at this point last year, there was 72. Three killings in three days...

 

Barrage of bullets kills man in car

Frederick McClain was Cincinnati's 3rd homicide victim of the week

By Carrie Whitaker, Cincinnati Enquirer, December 8, 2009

 

AVONDALE – A 23-year-old man was found shot to death in a bullet-riddled car Tuesday afternoon, police said.

 

Police said Fredrick McClaine was found in a black Dodge Charger in front of 525 Rockdale Ave. around 3:35 p.m. Tuesday.

^This was certainly not at all random.

Homicide is city's 4th in 4 days

By Eileen Kelley and Carrie Whitaker, Cincinnati Enquirer, December 9, 2009

 

EAST WESTWOOD - For the fourth time in as many days, a person has died because of street violence in the city of Cincinnati.

 

Homicide detectives rushed to the scene just after 2:30 p.m. to the report of a person dead after a shooting behind the Native Blenz barbershop near the busy corner of Baltimore and McHenry avenues.

I've honestly never been mugged or "nearly mugged".  In OTR or Downtown.  Corryville or Clifton Heights.  Perhaps it's because of my height?  I don't know.  Either I'm doing something right or I'm lucky.  Also, I never had my car broken into...when I had a car.

 

Tips or secrets?  I couldn't tell you mine.  I don't have any, other than to be alert at all times, and don't look like you're distracted.

 

I do wear hoodies though.  Perhaps people think I could pack something in them, so they don't approach me maliciously?

 

Your car was never broken into prolly for the same reason mine is never broken into -- it's old, worthless, and has nothing of value worth stealing inside it. :)

Oh, piss off. ;)

 

Did you know that the highest rate of break-ins occurs with Honda Civics?  Hmm?  I do wonder if there's a stat like that for metro areas.  That's just an national assessment.

 

After a while, I'd just leave my CD player in my car.

20,000 out due to jail closing

By Jessica Brown, Cincinnati Enquirer, December 18, 2009

 

CINCINNATI - Since Hamilton County's second-largest jail closed a year ago, more than 20,000 alleged criminals have been released onto the streets because there is no place to house them.

 

Some of them are accused of committing new, sometimes violent crimes. One raped two women, police said. Another cut a man with a box cutter after a robbery.

 

Yet the releases continue. And as budgets continue to shrink there is no end in sight.

Thanks, COAST.

A .5% sales tax to build a new jail was ridiculous, and it almost seemed to me like they proposed it with the intent of having it fail.  We need a new jail, but that was a terrible plan.  At this point, with the budget issues and economy, all we need are more cells.  Bars and concrete do not cost as much money as they wanted. 

 

On a side note, how many non-violent offenders are taking up space while repeat offenders and violent criminals are let loose?  Why are people serving jail time for missing child support payments or drunk driving, while real criminals are told to come back in a few months to serve their time?  Leis is right when he says the system is broken, but a 1/2 percent sales tax increase sure as hell wouldn't have fixed it.

^I'll agree that the first proposal was a terrible plan, but the second one was researched more than the first and included more for juvenile reform.  My understanding is that those currently in prison are violent offenders. 

 

There is a huge mess now in Hamilton County.  A police officer can arrest the same person twice while on their shift because the prisons are not keeping them.  I even heard that people are coming in from neighboring counties to commit crimes in Hamilton County because they know there isn't enough prison space.

Join the feds and send them to North Dakota.

Thanks, COAST.

 

http://www.parade.com/news/2009/03/why-we-must-fix-our-prisons.html?index=1

Since COAST claims to be such good libertarians, maybe they'll put forth a ballot initiative legalizing marijuana in Hamilton County. I'd sign it, but I'm not holding my breath.

I think the ballot initiative would have to be along the lines of making low levels of possession the lowest priority for Cincinnati PD.

Thanks, COAST.

 

http://cincinnati.blogspot.com/2009/12/did-coast-help-cause-increase-in-crime.html

Still at large...

 

Gun-toting teens rob man at Fountain Square

By Eileen Kelley, Cincinnati Enquirer, January 1, 2010

 

DOWNTOWN - Police canvassed the Downtown area after someone was reportedly robbed at gunpoint around Fountain Square at around 9 p.m. Friday.

 

The victim told police $350 in cash was taken from him after he was approached by three teens all wearing ski masks and black clothing.

 

One teen carried a .38 caliber gun.

What kind of dumbass carries $350?  That just encourages these guys to do it again. 

I heard different reports on this. He was there with his kids? Who was watching his kids when he went back to his car where he was robbed? The $350 was from the glove compartment.

Got an update on the "Fountain Square" robbery from the District 1 Citizens Alert System:

 

Wanted For Aggravated Robber

 

    An Aggravated Robbery occurred in the Central Business District on January 1, 2010 at 8:50 p.m in the evening.  This offense was previously reported by the media as having occurred on Fountain Square.  Further investigation has revealed the location for the offense was the 400 block of Walnut Street; at the northeast corner of Walnut and East Fourth Streets.

 

    A patron of downtown, having brought his children to the ice rink at Fountain Square, returned to his vehicle to retrieve his winter coat.  Three male blacks, wearing black clothing and neoprene face masks, rounded the corner from East Fourth, and confronted him at his vehicle.  One produced a snub-nosed revolver and demanded his money.  The victim complied and handed over his cash from his pockets.  Another suspect rifled through the cab of his car and removed other currency from the glove box.  The suspects are described as being 16-18 years of age, wearing black clothing.  One had a "squeaky" voice and was approximately 5'05" tall.  Another was taller, being about 6'02" in height.  The suspects fled in the direction they arrived, eastbound on East Fourth Street.  A preliminary search of surveillance cameras in the area produced the attached photograph.  As more cameras are examined and more pictures found, the alert will be amended.

 

    An as yet unidentified jogger collided with one of the suspects as they fled from the corner of East Fourth and Walnut Streets. The jogger was a white male, with earphones on and carrying an music player in his hand.  The jogger continued running westbound on East Fourth.  This jogger is asked to contact Detective Rick Malone at District One for his assistance in identifying the suspects: 513-352-3505.

Is there a final murder tally for the city out there somewhere? 

2009: 60

2008: 72

2007: 63

2006: 79

 

Interesting article, albeit old:

http://blog.al.com/bblalock/2009/07/bob_blalock_cincinnatis_crimef.html

2005: 79 murders

2004: 64 murders

2003: 71 murders

2002: 64 murders

2001: 55 murders

 

All data http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm Table 8 for each respective year

Wasn't there a time we were above 80?

 

Ediit: Thanks for the link, Brad.

So we have had the lowest amount of murders in 9 years and people still think Cincy is the murder capital of the midwest???

It may have been pruned, but early in the year I think I predicted 59 as being my hopeful estimate.  Not to treat life like it is just a statistic, but for perception 60 is good news.  We would have been better if we did not have that little flurry at the beginning of December.  Anyway, hopefully we continue in this direction.

Wasn't there a time we were above 80?

 

Ediit: Thanks for the link, Brad.

 

I guess not on the above 80 figure

 

 

If anyone is interested in writing it, an op-ed highlighting the lowest number of homicides since the "riots" would be a good topic at 300 words for the 'your voice' section of the editorial page

Since the riots? No murders happend during the riot.