Is Abq A War Zone? (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: apartment, crime rates, neighborhood)

[nightwishfan]

I'd have to say that while not a war zone per se, Albuquerque certainly seems to have much more crime than other areas of comparable size. Granted, I don't have any statistics upholding that feeling, just comparing my many years living in Albuquerque, with times spent on extended visits to other cities.

Now I will say this, I have never been the victim of a crime while living in Albuquerque. However, I have had doors pounded on by random people in the wee hours of the morning, heard nearby gunshots on multiple occasions, heard a shot once while at a friend's east central apt then walked outside to see that a guy had been shot in the neck, and more. Sometimes, for me at least, constantly being reminded of all the crime that goes on around the city either by news (which I actually stopped watching some time ago, local news at least) or by literally hearing and seeing it, tends to make me a wee bit edgy.

The comment about criminally related behavior leading to being a victim of crime, doesn't really float in Albuq. in my opinion. While it does play a large part, it seems that around 25% percent of crimes are not between people who know each other or that the victims have made bad choices leading to their victimization.

And living in a safe place? The few residential areas in Albuq. that are for the most part safe almost always have a very unsafe area within a few blocks of their borders. While not an answer to crime (but makes it easier to avoid), most other cities I've visited tended to have larger areas of safe and unsafe neighborhoods, where you could go some distance and still be in the "safe" neighborhood. From my observations, the combination of retail strip malls and other businesses bordering most neighborhoods, tends to up the feeling of crime and the reality of it. In cities where crime felt lower, they usually had an expanse of neighborhoods, with a more centralized area for businesses, rather than tacking them onto the ends of residential streets. Granted, I assume that part of these feelings come from seeing loiterers at businesses, and that loitering does not equal crime (well technically it does, but not the kind of crime we're talking about ).

So, I guess if a person does not mind hearing about crime a lot, they wouldn't find Albuquerque to be a war zone, chances are they probably would not be the victim of a crime while living there, they just might hear and see crime. A #1 reason of why I moved out of Albuquerque was the crime, even though I hadn't been victimized, and not many people I know had been either, it still can effect your life.

[jghoo]

Originally Posted by Tim Rankin

We just moved to Md, and watching the news last night, there was a story about all the murders in Prince George's County [suburb of DC]. They had 9 murders in 13 days. Pr. George's population was about 840,000 in 2006.

amounting to roughly 10% of the Virginia population which is what 4 times the population of the state of NM. Not to mention you said it was a suburb of DC?
DC was ranked 7th worst murder rate in 2006 by FBI uniform crime reports. Maybe there is no spillover however.

[abqsunport]

Originally Posted by nightwishfan

And living in a safe place? The few residential areas in Albuq. that are for the most part safe almost always have a very unsafe area within a few blocks of their borders. While not an answer to crime (but makes it easier to avoid), most other cities I've visited tended to have larger areas of safe and unsafe neighborhoods, where you could go some distance and still be in the "safe" neighborhood.

North Albuquerque Acres is bordered by Sandia Heights and the Far North East Heights. These neighborhoods are bodered by Tanoan and the Albuquerque Academy. These neighborhoods are bordered by High Desert, Mountain Run, etc. There are huge expanses of safe parts of the city. Tell me one seedy neighborhood in 87122, 87111, 87109, 87113 and 87114? Don't blame a city just because you weren't living in the right parts of town.

You don't find too many ghettos north of Montgomery. You won't find too many ghettos anywhere north of I-40 except some minor spots. As for south of I-40, you are pretty good from Old Town to Nob Hill. Four Hills is also great.

Don't make blanket statements that simply aren't true. Most of Albuquerque is neither seedy nor within a few blocks of a ghetto area.

[nightwishfan]

Tsk Tsk. I don't recall calling these unsavory areas ghetto. In fact, that is just it, you can live in a rather nice area of town, and still hear about crime happening in your backyard.

Yes, those are all nice neighborhoods, but I know there are some blocks intermixed/bordering on many of those areas that are not ideal. But you are correct, Once you get into the far/high desert area of the NE heights, things are pretty mellow. I'd have to double check my post, but I believe I said that most neighborhoods border commercial streets, and these also tend to be the areas with more crime (or the feeling of it at least).

From Old town to Nob Hill eh? Forgetting about the student ghetto (cool houses, but that's where I heard all those gun shots over a couple years)?
Nob Hill, yes it's nice, just don't go too far east or south past the immediate neighborhood. One upside I've seen though, is that the area's historically more dangerous neighborhoods have been working to improve their neighborhoods quite a bit in the last 10 years or so. The SE area between Louisiana & Wyoming, and Central and Gibson, have been making strides, though I wouldn't recommend that area to someone quite yet. That area is the original Albuq. war zone, at least in my lifetime.

Anyhow, no I would never call Albuquerque seedy or ghetto. Is crime reported from all major sections of the city, yes. Does this mean everyone is likely to be a victim, no. Will you likely hear about some violent crime daily when you watch the nightly news, yes.

As I've mentioned in other threads, most people I know who have moved to Albuquerque from elsewhere, love it. I suppose that tells a person something. One of the upsides of Albuquerque is that it feels very safe to walk around the entertainment centers of town at night (nob hill, downtown, etc) with 2 or more people. You certainly never feel like your going to be mugged or otherwise. Most of the crimes I've heard about happening to friends or family happened while they were at home. I only know one person who was mugged on the street, and that was in the wee hours and she was alone.

[ABQConvict]

Having lived in University Heights (the Student Ghetto) since 1990, I can recall 3 murders in the area: One was a woman who murdered her wife-beating husband in the infamous 'graffitti house' (which was subsequently razed and replaced with a nice, medium-density triplex. Another was a knifing which occured at a house party by a fellow who was "out-danced" (!) according to the newspaper, and the third was commited by APD against a guy in a wheelchair across from the Frontier Restaurant.

Nine times out of ten, when I hear 'gunshots', what I am actually hearing is fireworks from the Stadium a few blocks away. It is nice to get a free, weekly fireworks show. Go Lobos! Also, there is a large Mexican population in the neighborhood to the south near CNM. Unfortunately, it is a practice to fire guns in the air on holidays, birthdays, quinceaneras, etc.

Not every gunshot you hear is an attempted (or, forbid, successful) murder attempt.

Furthermore, I have heard of not a single 'Home Invasion' in this area. Something which I cannot say about some of the "safer" neighborhoods in the NE Heights. The most significant risk, in my opinion, in the University Heights area is harrassment by transients who ply their trade (panhandling) near the Frontier/UNM area and motorists who intentionally buzz by cyclists.

ABQConvict

[DeniseT]

I've lived in Alb all my life (31 years) and have had a bicycle stolen and a drunk man came to my house looking for food. Not truly life threatening. I have lived in SW area (off of central and 68th-not best area) I have lived in NW valley off Edith, on the KAFB, in NE Heights off Tramway, Off Central and Dorado, near San Mateo and Zuni, etc. Some good areas, some not so good areas and the above is the worst to happen. Thank God. My Husband is from the Gary Indiana area (murder capital) and he laughs when someone says Alb is rough. He feels completely safe here. If any of this helps.

[rybert]

So what we're saying is that

a) ABQ is a lot like every other American city

b) ***holes steal/harm everywhere

c) Keep your bicycle inside and away from would-be UNM Hipster fixed gear wanna- be bicycle thieves

[ABQConvict]

Originally Posted by rybert

c) Keep your bicycle inside and away from would-be UNM Hipster fixed gear wanna- be bicycle thieves

Ha! So true. I think that 'real' thieves come to UNM campus and will steal the wheels of an otherwise locked-up bike. When the owner comes to get their bike and finds it wheeless, they abandon it.

Then when night falls, the above-mentioned Hipster fixie guys come out and remove all the components like a bunch of hyeanas and vultures after the lion leaves, stripping it bare like the flesh off a carcass leaving only the still locked frame like so many wildebeest bones.

ABQConvict

[Shmikker]

no its not a "war zone" if it were, no one would live here. it seems everybody lives here nowadays

[rybert]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

Ha! So true. I think that 'real' thieves come to UNM campus and will steal the wheels of an otherwise locked-up bike. When the owner comes to get their bike and finds it wheeless, they abandon it.

Then when night falls, the above-mentioned Hipster fixie guys come out and remove all the components like a bunch of hyeanas and vultures after the lion leaves, stripping it bare like the flesh off a carcass leaving only the still locked frame like so many wildebeest bones.

ABQConvict

nice.