Patrons share their views on crime in Old Town

Public cameras and more police are the keys to making Old Town safer, a recent survey of 204 Old Town patrons found. The survey is nonscientific.

It was conducted over the summer by Wichita police and the Old Town Association, before a recent spate of shots-fired calls in Old Town.

A sampling of the results:

• What is your top reason for coming to Old Town?

Drinking: 35 percent

Restaurant: 24 percent

Movie: 20 percent

• When do you typically come to Old Town?

Morning: 15 percent

Lunch-afternoon: 12 percent

Afternoon-dinner: 5 percent

Dinner-evening: 28 percent

Evening-late night: 40 percent

• How safe do you feel in Old Town?

Safe: 60 percent

Somewhat safe: 25 percent

Somewhat unsafe: 12 percent

Unsafe: 3 percent

• Do you feel there needs to be:

More police: 28 percent

Less police: 1 percent

The same number of officers: 70 percent

No response: 1 percent

• Over the last three years, would you say the level of crime has:

Increased: 30 percent

Decreased: 31 percent

Stayed the same: 39 percent

• What time of day is crime most likely to occur?

10 p.m. to midnight: 13 percent

Midnight to 2 a.m.: 49 percent

2 to 7 a.m. 30 percent

Other: 19 percent

• What type of crime is most likely to occur?

Nuisance: 24 percent

Property: 41 percent

Violent: 16 percent

All three are equally likely: 19 percent

• What is the greatest contributor to crime?

Lack of police: 20 percent

Loitering: 17 percent

Homelessness: 18 percent

Excessive alcohol/drug use: 15 percent

Poor lighting: 15 percent

• What is needed to make Old Town safer?

Public cameras: 35 percent

Increased police presence: 30 percent

Set minimum age for entering club at 21: 17 percent

Increase lighting: 17 percent

Hurst Laviana

This story was originally published September 15, 2012 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Patrons share their views on crime in Old Town."