Statistics show there is reason for the alarm.
"I don't think they were prepared for me to actually fight back," said Chris, attempted robbery victim.
At 6 o'clock on Wednesday morning, this man became a statistic. Chris, who asked us not to use his last name, was the victim of attempted robbery as he cut through an alley near Clark and Newport on his way to work.
"One of 'em came from behind, put an arm around my neck. I just kind of flipped him. Other guy came running and said, 'What do you think you are, a tough guy?'" said Chris.
Chris' attackers ran off after he fought back and screamed for a woman across the street to call police. He was one of three people attacked just before sun-up on Wednesday morning in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood.
The local alderman wants police brass to reassign daytime officers to the nightshift because he says that's when more crimes occur.
"They are giving us the resources we need. I want them to work harder on allocation. You can pinpoint exactly the hours we need this and that requires flexibility," said Ald. Tom Tunney, 44th Ward.
Police stats from the 19th District in Lakeview show an uptick in robberies; 119 in the first half of last year; 159 in the same period this year. That's a 33.6 percent increase.
Still, it's just a fraction of the 655 robberies reported in the South Side's Englewood neighborhood.
Even North Siders concerned about recent robberies concede their problems pale in comparison to other parts of city.
"There was a 75 person street brawl out in North Lawndale last week and it was not covered. I was in it, we were all attacked," said Xavier Ramey, Lincoln Park resident.
For crime victims like Chris, a realization that common-sense also plays a role in staying safe.
"Just be aware. This area of Belmont is not safe. During the day it's nice and beautiful. At night it turns into something completely different," said Chris.
