Security ramped up for Cubs playoff games

FOX 32 NEWS - The Chicago Cubs first playoff game on Friday is all the talk in the city.

And when the Cubs put their best-record-in-baseball to the test against the San Francisco Giants, a whole new layer of security will be wrapped around Wrigley Field.

Bunting flutters on the face of Wrigley Field is a sure sign that October baseball is almost here, and with it comes a big show of force by Chicago police.

"The flow of traffic is extremely important to us. For a first responder that might be coming...an ambulance or a call, somebody needs help,” said CPD Deputy Chief Al Nagode.

So beginning Friday at noon, there will be no parking on several of the main streets around Wrigley, including Clark, Addison, Southport, Racine and parts of Irving Park.

Police say they're forced to expand the no-parking zones because of all the construction going on around the ballpark, narrowing streets and creating pinch points for foot traffic.

"Well three of the four corners are major construction sites,” said Alderman Tom Tunney.

Tunney says fans without a ticket should stay away from the Wrigleyville bars this year, many of which have fallen victim to the wrecking ball.

"There's not a lot of seats and occupancy is going to be strictly enforced. There's a chance you'll be outside more than you'll be inside,” Tunney said.

Here's something else that's new that FOX 32 found. The city has brought in a number of these portable security cameras and placed them at strategic points around the neighborhood to give them additional eyes in the sky.

The head of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management says they're also getting help from the FBI.

"No credible threats to Chicago at this point,” said Rich Guidice of the OEMC. "We plan for this. We pay attention to what's going on all over the world."

And police say they've formed a special unit of detectives that will crack down on counterfeit ticket sales, both online and around the ballpark.

"We follow up and we investigate anyone who's selling illegal tickets, and we want to prosecute fully. Because…There's nothing worse than to see a family that just bought a ticket...going up to the window and finding out their ticket's no good. There's nothing we can do at that point,” Nagode said.