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Lakeview Crime Spike Prompts One Woman To Fight Back

CHICAGO -- A string of armed robberies and burglaries in the Lakeview neighborhood have a lot of folks looking over their shoulders.

However, one woman is fighting back, CBS 2's Chris Martinez reports.

Kate Webster is an expert in self-defense.

Her mission right now is to keep people in Lakeview safe.

She's offering her self-defense lessons for free as a solution to the rise in crime in her neighborhood.

Her workshop filled up in just a few days.

Crime statistics show robberies in Lakeview are among the highest in the city.

"When they start to hear about robberies during the day or in their exact location they're like, 'Oh, that could be me,' " said Webster.

It's led to changes in security at Lakeview businesses, including the Lax Shop, 1216 W. Belmont, a lacrosse equipment shop owned by Shane Banner.

He's keeping the doors locked and buzzing in customers.

There was such a demand for Webster's free self-defense class that she offered a second night at the Thousand Wave Martial Arts center,
1220 W Belmont Ave
.

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