Fulton Market District Residents Demand Safety Improvements After Armed Robbery

Community meeting with Chicago police addresses rising crime in the neighborhood

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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After a violent armed robbery in Chicago's Fulton Market District last week, residents demanded answers from the police at a safety meeting on Thursday night. Locals expressed concerns over a rise in car break-ins, robberies, and other violent crimes in the area. Police from the 12th District attended the meeting and answered questions, while the Fulton Market Association called for the installation of 50 new security cameras to help deter and catch criminals.

Why it matters

The Fulton Market District is a popular commercial and residential area in Chicago that has seen an increase in violent crime over the past year. Residents and business owners are worried about public safety and want to work with the police to find solutions to improve security and prevent future incidents like the recent armed robbery.

The details

The armed robbery occurred in broad daylight last week, prompting outrage from the community. So far in 2026, the Near West Side neighborhood that includes Fulton Market has seen 72 violent crimes, including 21 robberies, 2 homicides, 9 sexual assaults, and 40 aggravated assaults and batteries. Data shows violent crime in the area dropped 27% from 2024 to 2025, but residents still feel unsafe, especially after the recent brazen robbery. The Fulton Market Association is pushing for the installation of 50 new security cameras to help deter and catch criminals.

  • On February 13, 2026, there had been 72 violent crimes in the Near West Side neighborhood so far this year.
  • In 2025, there were 771 violent crimes in the neighborhood, a 27% drop from 2024 when there were 1,055 violent crimes.

The players

Lisa Miller

A worker in the Fulton Market District who expressed concerns about public safety in the area.

Roger Romanelli

The executive director of the Fulton Market Association, who is calling for the installation of 50 new security cameras to help improve safety in the neighborhood.

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What they’re saying

“You can never be too safe, whether it's broad daylight, 2:30 in the afternoon, or 2:30 a.m.”

— Lisa Miller, Worker in Fulton Market District (CBS News Chicago)

“It shows they care, right? The last thing they want to do is investigate a crime against me. So, everything they can do to help make me safer, the neighborhood safer, other residents safer, I think it's good for the city.”

— Lisa Miller, Worker in Fulton Market District (CBS News Chicago)

“It's community talking to the police. That's the best way to fight crime.”

— Roger Romanelli, Executive Director, Fulton Market Association (CBS News Chicago)

“We want a network of cameras down here; state of art. So, if you're a criminal you come down here you know you know you're going to be on camera and you know you're going to get caught.”

— Roger Romanelli, Executive Director, Fulton Market Association (CBS News Chicago)

“When you have a vulnerable person at 4 o'clock in the afternoon standing on the sidewalk, guns come out, and he's on the ground, that could've been any of us. So, we all have to pause and say that must never happen again.”

— Roger Romanelli, Executive Director, Fulton Market Association (CBS News Chicago)

What’s next

The Fulton Market Association is calling on the local alderman to work with them to get a network of 50 new security cameras installed in the neighborhood to help deter and catch criminals.

The takeaway

The armed robbery in Fulton Market District has sparked a renewed focus on public safety in the neighborhood, with residents and business leaders demanding that the police and local government take action to improve security and prevent future violent incidents. The community's engagement with the police is seen as a crucial step in addressing the rise in crime.