Is Abq A War Zone?

[andmarti]

Albuquerque has a "War Zone" but is not a war zone. I have lived here 10 years and have lived in different areas. The worst thing that has happend to me was someone broke into my car and stole some things. That was when I lived in an apartment where my car was parked right off a major street. It was nowhere near the "War Zone". Some areas do have more crime than others. But you don't have to fear for your wife and children on a day out. Unless they are walking the streets and walk up on a group of druggies and gangsters. And where do they hang out? Anywhwere in the world, there are bad people everywhere. Like Desert Sun said he saw more in Farmington than Alb. I grew up in the place that has the highest drug dealer/crime rates in New Mexico and didn't have any criminal activity at my house or in my life. It depends on what your lifestyle is and where you hang out.

I can honestly say I feel really safe in Albuquerque. I also use common sense and don't go out for a walk at night alone or hang out in shady places with shady people.

[Rich_Girl]

The whole city is not a "war zone" but there are some neighborhoods that are rougher than others(as with just about anywhere). I lived there for about a year and being very explorative by nature I ventured all over the city...nothing ever happened to me. At most some people I knew had their vehicles broken into or stolen, a couple armed robberies close to where I worked. Those crimes are not uncommon but consider the population of the town and specific areas when considering these stats. Not every neighborhood is unsafe and some in fact are quite nice.

[lisdol]

Of the three times I had my vehicle broken into in town, two were at the UNM student parking lot off of University north of the school. Not an area you'd suspect a lot of crime, with all the coming and going of students. I do remember when I took the shuttle bus to my car after dark, the driver would wait for me to get in my car and start it before she drove off.

I think property crime (like vehicle break ins) is all over town. Violent crime is not, though things can happen anywhere I guess....I remember living in an apt complex off of Montgomery and Jefferson and Pizza Hut refusing to deliver there because of "gang activity". My roommates and I had a chuckle over that. The worst thing that happened to me there was some perv stole all of my underwear out of the dryer.

Some areas are safer than others. While Pizza Hut would not deliver to our NE hts apartment, I worked with someone who had a second job delivering pizza in the foothills and he would leave the engine running while he rang the doorbell.

[bradly]

Well thats just plain nonsence? albuquerque a war zone... not in the city limits but usually on bridge road you see some ghetto parts. Thats out of city limits thaank god.

[HeyJoe]

As much as I don't really care for it here... AND as much as the statistics would make you believe crime here is through the roof... personally in 5 years of living here I have never been involved in anything, nor seen anything occur. In general I feel pretty safe here.

[Chamisa]

I lived in Farmington in the mid-90s. My coworker's son was beaten up and left for dead (he didn't die but it took months for his rehabilitation and recovery) by gang members outside a club near UNM... actually, they beat up a couple of his friends too who tried to come to his rescue. And about 6 or so years ago my dental hygienist's daughter was riding with her fiance (in a "good" area) when a car slowed way down and almost stopped in front of them, so her fiance passed around them on the left, and then made a right turn when the gang members in the car took "offense" at being "cut off" (or maybe it was a set-up) and shot and killed him. Soooo... I love Albuquerque and I have spent a lot of time there (only big city around to do big city shopping etc. in), but I am always aware of my surroundings and will not go into certain areas, and while I'd love to live there for many reasons, I probably would never do so. The problem isn't really in one or two areas only; it's more generalized than that and any area can be unsafe. Maybe Rio Rancho is a "better" place? But all of NM that I'm aware of has gangs-- even Farmington. There used to be periodic calls for the citizens in Farmington to come together for clean-up event days to paint over or pressure wash taggings. And I've felt wary in the mall in Santa Fe and positively unsafe in Espanola. I live in the DFW area now, and yes there is crime but it feels different somehow. Nevertheless, I do plan to move back to NM because I just love the beauty, climate, and cultures there.

[AlisonL]

I lived my life in Maine, was raised in a small town of 500 people. The largest city has a population of roughly 62,000. I'm definitely a small town person, but I will say I felt safe in ABQ. Did I see any crime, no. But then, I don't go out looking for it and I knew the areas to avoid.
I now live in Rio Rancho, and love it here. So quiet in my neighborhood.