Crime in Wynwood

By: Emmanuel Genao

Located in Midtown Miami, Wynwood is an area that has seen a lot of changes over the past 10 years.  The emergence of art has completely revitalized the area of Wynwood now known as The Art District.

This past weekend Wynwood’s Art District was the sight of a satellite Art Basel fair. Art Basel being a 4 day long art event that takes over Miami for a weekend, with many artist and art lover from all over the world descending on the city.

With Wynwood quickly becoming Miami’s art Mecca, with its giant street art murals and amazing art studio collections, many people came out to enjoy the many gallery’s and restaurants that have recently opened up there.

Courtesy of Spot Crime

Although Wynwood has come a long way in recent years, crime is still very prevalent.

Sebastian Jofre, a local visitor to the Art Basel event said his cars rear view mirror was bashed off while his car was  parked on the Wynwood street. He said, “It looked like an accident but no one left a note.”

In August a local restaurant named Joey’s was robbed at gun point. According to theMiami Herald, “three men with bandanas covering their faces walked into the Italian restaurant, showed their guns and demanded everyone to lie on the floor.”

According the The Miami Herald’s crime blotter, also in August, “A burglar picked the front door lock of an apartment in the 2100 block of Northwest Fifth Avenue and ransacked the apartment between 4 and 11 p.m.”

Violent crimes are not the only things happening in Wynwood. In October, a pill mill was discovered in the area. According to an article by Janie Campell of NBC Miami, “Police and federal agents busted an alleged pill mill in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood.”

Crime in the area of Wynwood seems to be tarnishing the vision that many have for this area. With new business owners and artist trying to get more area citizens and tourist into The Art District, reducing crime seems to be a big priority, especially in times like this past weekend’s Art Basel fair.

Source: spotcrime.com/Miami Herald/NBC Miami