Crime in Cooper-Young

There has been a drastic change in Cooper Young from 2006, when over 200 crimes happened per month. Residents stated that they feared to take out trash at night. In February of 2016, only 36 crimes were reported; the many residents that we spoke with felt comfortable walking their dogs around the neighborhood alone at night. The crimes that occur now in Cooper-Young range from misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor vandalism, simple assault, intimidation, and fraud. Residents reported that it was common to have panhandling, car theft, and sheds being broken into, but these things could be prevented with vigilance and safety awareness. 


 Crime tends to be clustered around Southern Ave and East Parkway S; these are the borders of Cooper-Young located near lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods. Neighborhood watch could account for this change in crime. This Neighborhood Watch was revived in February and includes fifty-five neighbors and guests. Every hour that participants donate is matched with $23 that applied towards the $30,000 in grant funds. This grant money will be used to buy home security systems. Around seventy safety cameras are supposed to be put into place in the near future to catch crimes in the act. This process has been put on hold by Major Strickland, but he plans on getting the program back on track.



Don't Be A DICK! 

              

           The “Don’t be a dick” campaign emerged in 2007, residents wanted to  encourage both locals and visitors to be aware of suspicious behavior and prevent the encouragement of crime. Dick is a fictional character that leaves valuables out in the open and makes it more likely for crimes to occur. He is also robbed when he does not report suspicious behavior. Cooper-Young would like to warn the many people that attend festivals or come to enjoy the night life to "Don't be a Dick!"


Insufficient Parking

           

        

      For the large number of businesses that are in Cooper-Young, there is not enough adequate parking available. There is a few rather small parking lots available for locals and visitors, but many people are left circling to find empty spots on the street. Events like 5ks and festivals make parking even more of a challenge. There is not enough parking available to  meet the high demand of tourists during these times. 

While the implementation of the 'Roo, and the building of a parking garage in Overton Square has reduced some of the pressure, there is still a need for additional, safe parking. 



References:
Spot Crime. (2016). Memphis, TN Crime Map. 
WMCA (2007). Cooper-Young Residents Fighting Back Against Crime