Springfield Safety Guide

Springfield greets you with wide streets, brick storefronts, and the drifting scent of roasted peanuts from corner stands. Most travelers wander downtown day and night without trouble, lured by the soft clop of carriage horses on cobblestones and jazz drifting up from cellar bars. Still, a glance at the evening police blotter reminds you that even this Midwestern city logs the odd purse-snatching near the Old State Capitol and late-night scuffles outside clubs on Adams Street. Locals trade easy smiles on the tree-lined lanes by Lincoln's home, yet the same residents will warn you that parts of the east side see higher rates of property theft after dark. Summer humidity settles over Springfield restaurant patios, mixing with the sweet smell of corn fritters, enough of a distraction that nimble pickpockets sometimes weave through the crowded tables. All told, Springfield feels more like an oversized neighborhood than a metropolis, but a few common-sense habits keep your visit smooth.