Chicago police to businesses: install riot-proof glass

The Chicago Police Department is actually recommending that businesses in crime-ridden precincts install riot-proof glass in their windows.

Chicago police – is that your best?

Chicago Police made this recommendation in a recent Community Alert following a string of smash-and-grab burglaries. These occurred in the Humboldt Park and Wicker Park neighborhoods. The alert recommends a specific brand of “armor glass” called ArmorPlast®, a product of Riot Glass, Inc. (See also here and here.) But it does not offer to reimburse owners for installing this product; instead, they must pay for it themselves. To use the product, they must install it on top of their existing windows.

This tweet is typical of the reaction of business owners to this recommendation.

Witnesses say typical Chicago Police response time runs from 10 to 20 minutes after they call to report ongoing theft. (Fox Business had the details.) They then must either take the theft loss or try to stop the thieves on their own. Burglaries are on track to increase by six percent from the 2022 figure.

According to the alert, thieves typically break into a business by breaking the front and/or side windows.

Tamar Jaradat, owner of Western Food and Grocery, told CBS News that thieves have hit his business “multiple times.” Once in fact, thieves lifted an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) and carried it away.

Usually, people fear for their lives too. Like, I have seven kids. If it takes me having to protect my life or my business, I’m going to do it.

Neither outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoot nor incoming Mayor Brandon Johnson would comment on the alert or what prompted it. Nor has anyone asked how Riot Glass, Inc. won the free advertising the Chicago Police gave their brand.

This video, on the Riot Glass channel, gives details on the alert.

Typical of cities?

Most crime reported today is property crime – larceny, burglary, auto theft, etc. But the Big Four – murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault – still account for 379 incidents per 100,000 people. Significantly, large city police departments are not recommending that people arm themselves.