South Lansing Sees Uptick in Crime
Save Email Print
Updated: 7:33 PM Jul 3, 2009
South Lansing Sees Uptick in Crime
Recent Surge Belies Year-Long Decrease
The south side of Lansing has benefited from a decline thus far this year in crime. But June and July have brought a disturbing change in direction. The Lansing Police Department has a theory.
Posted: 5:37 PM Jul 3, 2009
Reporter: Liam Martin
Email Address: liam.martin@wilx.com
Font Size:

The Citgo station on Mt. Hope and Bradley presented an all too familiar sight Thursday night -- another robbery, another shooting.

"There is a string of robberies that they're looking at," said Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero. "Violent robberies."

A Citgo clerk shot during a robbery Thursday; shots fired twice in less than a month at the Venue night club; then a 66-year-old man beaten half-to-death at a southside apartment complex.

South Lansing is seeing its fair share of crime.

"People have lost their jobs," said Tina Houghton, a southside resident. "People are in threat of losing their homes. And there's less money to go around."

Lansing Police Capt. Ray Hall says it's not as bad as it seems.

"Actually, overall, crime is down this year as compared to last year, on the south end of Lansing," Hall said, noting the 5.7 percent decline across the city.

But he does say that overall decline doesn't jive with the recent uptick in crime. And he adds the shooting at the West Mt. Hope Citgo on Thursday could hold the key.

"We're very concerned about this particular armed robbery. We believe that these two same suspects are connected with other robberies in the mid-Michigan area," Hall said.

Three in South Lansing alone, in fact: The Citgo incident, another at the Speedway at 5200 South Pennsylvania, and a third, at the QD on 720 West Jolly. It's a string that could threaten the progress South Lansing appeared to be making.

"It takes only a couple players to change the landscape, as far as crime is concerned," Hall said.


WILX Poll
Are You Starting Your Christmas Shopping Now Because Of Early Black Friday Deals?

Yes
No


Bernero Wins Another Four Years
Bernero Wins Another Four Years
  • Posted By: Sandito all of you who voted for Virg. Well most of the jobs went to out of town workers, like the guys who did the streets, from OHIO!, the workers down town who are from all over but Lansing. The people who have tried to work with him in neighborhoods know that its either his way or his way. He does not care what was told or promised to you, he makes sure it's his way. If you don't like it TOO BAD FOR YOU!! If you opossed him on something gee something is not right in you neighborhood and it is not the citys fault. You and your neighbors are doing something ilegal. How do I know? I have one of the letters they sent to my neighborhood. Good Luck Lansing
  • Posted By: Congradulations to the City of Lansing! You re-elected someone who is totally beyond belief. A man who thinks if your a developer your the best thing to happen to the city, even it your less than honest. But if your a home owner who lives here... So you wanted him and we are now stuck with him for another 4 years. A man who went into QD for donuts, and had to have the clerk put them in a box for him because he did not know how. What a great guy for the mayor. Most of you have never had to try to deal with him, for fight him and his people for what was promised to them and then changed. You wait your turns are comming.
  • Posted By: BradBOY THATS JUST GREAT. I GUESS I'LL NEVER WORK IN LANSING THE NEXT FOR YEARS,BUTIM SURE VIRG WILL HIRE THE SCABS FROM GRAND RAPIDS AND HEAR HOW GREAT THE CITY IS DOING. THANKS VIRG FOR YOUR GREATGUIDENCE AND FABULOUS LIESD
  • Posted By: kI think you people are neglecting the real culprit for Lansing's troubles as well as the state of Michigan.Look who we have in the capitol sitting there in her office,telling us all a bunch of lies and making promises that she knows she can't keep. Don't be so hard on our Mayor when it's our governor who needs to be scrutinized.
  • Posted By: BillMy condolances to the residents of Lansing. You had your chance to rid yourself of your major embarrasment but chose not to. I hope it does not come back to haunt you in the next 4 loooooong years.
  • Posted By: BillGREAT! ! ! Michigan is still going to end up downhill. Why dont we just re-elect Granholm for Governor? Better off, why not elect Jim carry for president?, since this all seems to be such a comical situation... GO MICHIGAN! ! ! Move here!, NO JOBS! but it is such a pretty state.. Keep up the good work VIRG! ! Why cant you people making thousands take a cut? I personally think because taking from the middle class and the poor puts so much more in your pockets 2 thumbs down for you and our Govenor. Best wishes on continuing to bring down our state.
  • Posted By: BillThank GOD that Carol Wood did not win! Anyone who thinks that neighborhoods generate revenue needs to get their head out of the clouds and take an introductory economics course. Jobs come BEFORE better neighborhoods, not the other way around.
  • Posted By: Shocked...Congrats Virg...and I mean that with the utmost sarcarism...I do not live within the city of Lansing, thus could not vote but had I been able to I would not have voted for him. I am a city of Lansing employee and Virg has done NOTHING for the cities employees but cut jobs, benefits...take take take. Nor for the city in general...His motto in the last election was "Lansing Works" ironic that ALL of the construction on Michigan ave was done by scab's from Grand Rapids, and let's mention all the mums he planted along that road to the tune of $30,000.00 that only lasted one year and then died because they were not properly winterized, so the next spring they all got dug up, thrown away and more were planted to the tune of another $30,000.00. Tax payers money hard at work there. City employees have been working without a contract for nearly three years, no raises in site but his staff got a 20% increase last year alone...WAY to GO Virg...shame on you and your corrupt misguided politics...
WILX Special Section
Stock Quotes
Real Time Stock Quotes.
Reinventing GM
Follow GM's Progress
WILX Pet-Pals
Find Your Companion Adopt A Pet
FinditLansing.com
From Clothes To Appliances Buy or Sell It
Relay For Life
Find Relays In Your Area
DTV Information
Need Help With Digital Television?
Interactive Weather Map
Get Your Weather Where Ever When Ever
Lansing's History
Find Out What Happened This Week in History.
Sponsored Headlines
AP Videos