Friend moving to an apartment just off of Braker and I-35. Is the area safe? (Austin: low income, apartments)

[clow987]

I went with a buddy to find an apartment and he seemed to enjoy this place called Cricket Hollow just off I-35 and Braker (actually on 35 Frontage.) He decided to move in there since the rent was cheap and it was a gated community. The area isn't as nice as others that I've lived but it was very green with a beautiful field right next door. I'm probably overreacting but I've read that the 78753 area can be dangerous and Braker is just north of Rundberg which I know is awful. I'm just curious if I should be cautious when I go visit and warn him about anything.

Thanks in advance!

[mark311]

If it's just a guy living by himself, I wouldn't be too worried. I wouldn't want to live there with my wife and kids, but as long as he uses common sense/street smarts, he'll be fine. There actually is a reason for a complex there to be gated because of high property crime. I'd be most worried about by car getting broken into.

[clow987]

Yeah my car getting broken into is what I always worry about in Austin. This friend along with some others used to live right off Mopac and Burnet. Car burglary was pretty bad even though it was a very nice community. Even had a few apartments broken into. I never keep anything valuable in the car and always lock it/ turn on the alarm.

[majicdonjuan]

Braker's not bad at all. Rundberg is probably the most dangerous area of Austin, but that's not saying much. Unless you or your friend are from a small town or are completely unused to an urban feel you should be fine. I wouldn't worry too much.

[capcat]

That area isn't like the Rundberg Ln area. It should be fine. My in-laws have lived very near Braker and 35 since the 60s. They've had an attempted break-in the past year, which is the first to their knowledge, but that could happen anywhere. They've never had a problem with a car break-in.

[Tam883Iron]

You can check out the recent crime reports in that area here:

[url=http://spotcrime.com/tx/austin]Austin, TX Crime Map - Showing Crimes in Austin - Crime Statistics, Alerts and Reports - Crime Stops Here[/url]

[clow987]

I appreciate the information everyone! I guess living close to a bad area isn't the same as living in a bad area. I'm not entirely used to Austin (live in a small suburb outside the city) but when I have school I crash at my friends' places and just want to make sure everything is safe.

[RowdysMom]

I"ve lived in the Braker I35 area for 25 years - just across the street from low income duplexes, actually - and I've never had a problem, or a break in, either in my car or home. It is just fine in my opinion. It is so funny, the worst places in Austin are so much better than most other cities' "worst places"

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by RowdysMom

I"ve lived in the Braker I35 area for 25 years - just across the street from low income duplexes, actually - and I've never had a problem, or a break in, either in my car or home. It is just fine in my opinion. It is so funny, the worst places in Austin are so much better than most other cities' "worst places"

So true! I help my daughter sell GS cookies right at Runberg and Lamar! Never had a problem. (I do stay a bit alert but it always goes so smoothly I feel silly being on "alert.")

[capcat]

Our family business has been located in the Rundberg area for almost 20 years and, even when you're alert, things happen. But, we're so used to the area that we're familiar and comfortable with it.