The latest FBI crime data shows that Rockford ranks as the most dangerous city in Illinois for 2022. Prepare Your Lawn Mower For Spring (Lawn Mower Maintenance Checklist). A raisin cake Lawson's wife Marie had baked for Christmas dinner was displayed on the tour and visitors would take raisins as souvenirs until the cake was eventually protected with glass. Theft, in general, is also high in this town, and both aggravated assault and violent crime still fly above the state and national averages. Chicago has the fitting nickname of the City of the Big Shoulders. That describes everything about this larger-than-life town, from the iconic Lake Shore Drive to the Magnificent Mile. However, you truly don't get much eviler or more sensational than Killer Clown John Wayne Gacy. John Wayne Gacy was a building contractor and amateur clown who was convicted of luring 33 men and boys to his home in the Chicago suburb of Norridge and strangling them to death. Any ties went to the smaller city. In addition to the most dangerous towns in Illinois, youll likely want to avoid the creepiest town in Illinois, which, according to many, is Alton. Property crime is a significant issue, with 1,339 thefts and 32 cases of arson reported in 2019. The poverty rate in East St. Louis is a staggering 37.81%. It has brought opportunities and funding as well as crime. Richard Speck was convicted in 1967 of killing eight student nurses in a Chicago dormitory on the night of July 13th 14th, 1966, raping one before she was killed. The violent crime rate in illinois ranks 18th highest in the United States -- 9.83% worse than US average violent crime rate. It doesnt matter if you dont have a pet. However, 2017 saw a slight uptick, particularly in assaults. They run the gamut, from poverty rate to population density to even innocuous things like climate. However, each sq. RoadSnacks is reader-supported. This nurse has one of the highest body counts in state history, with more than 30 confirmed and possibly hundreds more. Unfortunately, a lot of murders have come and gone in Illinois. The house that served as his victims' prison has been demolished. On April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech student Seung-Hui Cho shot 49 people on campus with two semi-automatic pistols, killing 32 and wounding 17. All Rights Reserved. If you are surprised that Chicago did not make the top 10 dangerous cities, that is entirely understandable. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city. So, not the hub of the universe. mile in Mount Vernon, and most of them are property crimes. Locking your doors and windows is another smart option. In 1912, eight people were murdered in the night, bludgeoned to death in their beds with the blunt end of an axe. It has the smallest population of any we considered. 0 Comments Weve discussed the sobering history of the Prohibition era. One thing that we learned from our research is that there are pockets of dangerous areas. This is among a city with a population of 32,030. According to FBI records, there were 1,446 violent crimes and 4,939 property crimes. They often bring much-needed revenue to an area. It was later determined their neighbor, Henry Layer, killed the family, all in a dispute over an attack by their family dog on Layer's cow. This Illinois City Has Been Named One Of The Safest In The U.S. The property crime rate in the ranks 316th highest in the United States -- 72.98% better than US average property crime rate. The town of roughly 25,000 has long had a penchant for paranormal activity and that is not too surprising when you consider its lengthy history. She later sold the store to Holmes and was never seen again. We want to point out again that there's still safes places in Rockford and that this isn't a comment on the people that live there. 103-year-old Loyola University Matriarch releases, Byron Lady Tigers follow in the footsteps of their, Pecatonicas season ends with loss to Fulton, IceHogs trade Adam Clendening to the Hartford Wolfpack, Report: Blackhawks dealing Patrick Kane to the Rangers, Byron Lady Tigers claim Super-Sectional win and a. He was executed at Stateville Correctional Center on September 18th, 1996. There were 1,965 violent Metropolis is the definition of a small town with just over 6,000 people and only 6.05 sq. These 13 Photos of Illinois In The 1960s Are Mesmerizing, These 13 Photos of Illinois In The 1970s Are Mesmerizing, These Unbelievable Ruins In Illinois Will Transport You To The Past, These 10 Photos of Illinois In The 1950s Are Mesmerizing, Most People Have Never Seen These 13 Photos Taken During WWII In Illinois, These 12 Houses In Illinois From The 1930s Will Open Your Eyes To A Different Time. The killer later admitted to three other murders in California and Washington, though he has not been convicted of two of the three. And, thankfully, some of the programs are actually winning. Both violent crime and property crime rates in Springfield are in the top ten statewide, with 1,230 instances of theft, burglary, and vandalism, and 1,078 attacks and murders. The Axeman's story owes its staying power to a letter someone claiming to be the perpetrator sent to newspapers on March 13, 2019, saying he would kill again at 15 minutes past midnight on the night of March 19, but households who played jazz music at that time would live to see another day: "I am very fond of jazz music, and I swear by all the devils in the nether regions that every person shall be spared in whose home a jazz band is in full swing at the time I have just mentioned. You may not be at high risk for assault in Wood River, but you could easily be robbed. Robin Gecht, Edward Spreitzer, Andrew and Thomas Kokoraleis, became known as The Ripper Crew, accused of being part of a satanic cult that abducted and killed 18 women in the Chicago area in the early 1980s. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. The prairie state is home to 12.67 million people, as of 2019, living amongst 1,299 municipalities. There has only been one murder in Centralia in recent times, but that does not mean it is safe. Authorities arrested an escaped convict, Gene Leroy Hart, but he was acquitted. Get more stories delivered right to your email. That same year, he killed Frances Brown in her apartment, leaving a note written in lipstick that read For heavens Sake catch me Before I kill more I cannot control myself.. If you're hanging out in Foundation Park, you might want to bring a buddy and get home before dark, because Centralia is the third most violent place in Illinois. House Grail is reader-supported. The 20.6% poverty rate in the city bolsters the crime rate in Chicago. He then killed Tom and Jill Estes at a hotel in Festus, Missouri the following day. In some ways, its an oasis in the middle of the corn and soybean fields, with many unique cultural attractions, parks, and a lively downtown. As you can see, property crimes are the most common crimes in Illinois. Talk about marriages not working out. Burglary is also high in this town with more than 900 cases per 100,000 people per year. He was acquitted, and no one else was tried afterward. The neighborhoods and shopping centers in these Illinois cities are not ALL bad. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city. While property crimes have declined in recent years, violent ones have increased. William George Heirens, aka The Lipstick Killer, got his name from a message he left scrawled on the wall of a victims apartment. Its home to Illinois State University and the headquarters of State Farm Insurance and Country Financial. There is a national median of 4 crimes per 1,000 residents, but Rockford exceeds that with 14 crimes per 1,000 people. Property crime is more common than violent crimes in Cahokia. Rockford. She later confessed to letting the car roll into John D. Long Lake with 14-month-old Alex and 3-year-old Michael inside. It's a good thing it sits so close to the river. That explains the higher household income and lower poverty rate. Awareness of your surroundings isnt just a suggestion, either. Theft and burglary are the biggest and most common crimes reported in Cahokia, IL. Statistics for all major violent and non-violent crimes well exceed the state averages. Luckily, Metropolis does not have much violent crime when looking for a silver lining. Despite the high-profile nature of the massacre, the FBI ended their investigation after two years and blocked any impending prosecutions. Caution is necessary for Mount Vernon, as 1 in 19 residents are victims of property crime. He is also responsible for abducting and sexually assaulting at least one other boy, Jared Scheierl. The cultural attractions and museums are some of the most prestigious ones on the planet. What are the circumstances that make these Illinois cities this way? We also suggest taking comfort in the fact that the overall crime rates are decreasing across the country. That doesn't mean it doesn't have plenty to offer, though. (L) a photo on the plaque marking Till's grave in Aslip, Illinois; (R) a photo of Till's mangled body as part of an exhibit at the Chicago Historical Society. Murder, rape, car theft, and burglary were among the crimes committed. The poverty rate in Springfield, IL, is 20.3%, which likely stokes the flames of crime in the city. Danville is an outlier on our list. Six months later, her body was found, and two "friends" who decided they no longer liked Skylar copped to plotting and executing hermurder. And if you don't see your city there, head to the bottom. Lanza first murdered his mother before driving her car to the school. Assault is the most common violent crime in Kankakee, and 144 assaults occurred in 2020. Authorities said Gacy would strangle his victims with a noose or stab them to death, often during or after sex. Sadly, if you live in Danville, you have to worry about the 1 in 20 chance of property crime. Though authorities doubt he survived the risky jump, DB Cooper has been a source of endless intrigue and speculation ever since, with a long string a possible suspects. mile the state suffers. The victims were between the ages of 8 and 10, and were raped and murdered. Did you know these were the worst cities in Illinois as far as crime is concerned? In May 2000, two more girls were discovered in a second metal drum. Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. Most of the shootings happened in Queens and The Bronx, all with a .44 caliber revolver. Joliet is a true river town, with the DuPage and Des Plaines Rivers flanking the city. It is located about 134 miles southwest of Chicago in what locals often call the largest cornfield in the state. 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