CLEVELAND — Downtown Cleveland will be packed Saturday afternoon for Game 5 of the American Division Series between the Guardians and Detroit Tigers. With tens of thousands of people expected to be out and about, the city will be prioritizing safety.
3News Investigates dug into the numbers from Games 1 and 2 of the ALDS at Progressive Field. We were surprised to see downtown didn't experience any huge jump in crime during either of those days, with police department stats showing last Saturday and this past Monday were both typical for normal evenings.
According to data for Ward 3 (which includes downtown and the stadium), there were 20 reported crimes on the night of Game 1 and 28 the night of Game 2. That's pretty much normal, with Ward 3 averaging 27 incidents per day in September.
Sergeant Freddy Diaz with the Cleveland Division of Police says that's no accident, with law enforcement treating special events with special preparation.
"Our officers are out there working, committed to making sure that everyone's safe," Diaz told 3News Investigates. "It is an exciting night for us as well. Even though we're working, it's exciting to see folks come down and enjoy the game."
We know from talking to local officials that safety is a major priority, especially during big games and events. Fans might notice extra officers, or they might not, but all hands will be on deck during Game 5.
"We have officers that are not in uniformed capacity but are out there, obviously, keeping an eye as well," Diaz said. "To us, they both go hand-in-hand."
For those coming downtown for the game this weekend, authorities recommend bring the bare essentials only. Whether you're carrying something important on your person or you lock something valuable in your car, thieves can only steal what they have access to.