Is crime actually rising on the Country Club Plaza? Here’s what the numbers tell us

Businesses and shoppers express worries about personal safety and rising crime on the Plaza, but the numbers show that the largest issues revolve around cars. However, shopping district's enduring legacy of racism tends to heavily influence the discussion.
A small white pickup, its sides marked “SECURITY” in bold lettering, creeps up the incline of a parking garage at the east end of the Country Club Plaza.

Once inside, the truck will circle, a visible presence countering the top crime threat that people experience on the Plaza — car theft, either of the vehicle or items taken from cars.

At the other end of the Plaza, near where the Cinemark Palace movie theater and a McDonald’s once drew crowds of teenagers, an unmarked police car sits idling in the street.

The Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) car’s stationary presence is a common sight in the iconic shopping district.

This was the scene on a recent Saturday evening. But the same routine, KCPD supplementing the Plaza’s private security, can be seen during the week.