January 1, TV News Crew Robbed at Gunpoint While Reporting on Robberies

In a shocking irony that highlights the escalating crime rate in some of America’s cities, a Univision Chicago TV news crew found themselves as victims of the very menace they were reporting on.

The Incident: While reporting on a series of armed robberies in Chicago early on a Monday morning, the crew was confronted and robbed by three men donning ski masks.

The scene took place near the 1200 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in the city’s West Town. The assailants not only demanded cash from the team but also pilfered personal items, including a camera and equipment bags.

Luis Godinez, Vice President of News at Univision Chicago, remarked on the situation, expressing relief that the crew was unharmed.

He emphasized the station’s intention to focus on the broader crime issues in the city rather than make the incident about themselves.

Indeed, this incident was not isolated. Over a 48-hour window, the city witnessed at least eight robberies, with many involving violence.

One such crime resulted in a 67-year-old man being admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital despite complying with the thieves.

The Broader Landscape of Crime: Recent statistics paint a grim picture for Chicago. So far, the city has reported 6,543 robberies, 4,821 burglaries, and a staggering 13,595 theft incidents this year.

The trend seems to be escalating, with alderman Scott Waguespack from the 32nd Ward expressing concern about the audacity of criminals and suggesting that those in higher offices, especially the mayor, need to address the problem head-on.

Mayor Brandon Johnson, having been in office since April, appears to have unconventional approaches to tackling crime. Johnson believes in diverting funds towards mental health care, educational institutions, and affordable housing rather than bolstering the police force.

Despite the soaring crime rates, which include 19,585 carjackings this year alone (a 227% rise from 2019), Johnson has been criticized for not adopting proven methodologies in combating crime. His focus has instead been on more tangential methods, like suing automakers to tackle the carjacking issue.

The mayor’s claims of achievements in his initial 100 days in office were recently brought into question when he claimed to have employed 24,000 youths for summer positions. Upon scrutiny, this number was suggested to be closer to 20,000.

An Alarming Trend: The hazards faced by the Univision crew are not unique. Earlier this month, another news team from WLS fell victim to a violent crime while covering a press conference.

Farther afield, a CNN team faced a similar situation in San Francisco, despite having personal security.

The increasing incidents of news crews being targeted underscore the urgency of the crime situation in these cities.

With crime reporters themselves becoming victims, it’s becoming clear that the issue requires immediate attention and more effective solutions.

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