Crime in BR (New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Baker: section 8, low crime, how much)

[tbtbtaylor]

Hi everyone,

I am moving to baton rouge this summer for grad school, and i'm searching for places to live. I have found a few that I like that are slightly north of LSU - but I also read on a thread here that this is one of the more dangerous places to live. I was wondering what sort of crimes we are talking about here and what sort of precautions one can take. I am from a good-sized city (madison, wi) though it has a very low crime rate...so i am, of course, slightly worried. lol

What sort of security systems should one have and how much do they usually run. What places should I look at moving to, if the north of LSU is really bad...I already know to avoid Gardere, but I also really don't want to commute far to school each and every day. I am too old to want to live around a ton of college kids - so campus housing is sort of out.

I just re-read this and it sounds like babble! I hope it all made some sort of sense. Any advice would be so much help, thanks!!!

[tbtbtaylor]

Also, I had read on some posts from 2007 that the crime was up due to and increase in population from katrina victims...i was wondering if that has quieted down at all, or if this influx of people is still an issue for the city.

[LSU Tiger Z71]

Don't be a *****.. cat. If you avoid Gardere, you're good. Look at pictures of the place you're about to live.. do you see any crackhouses, homeless, section 8? No? You're good. If you give me a specific complex, I can tell you about it. Anything on campus is fine as well.

Also, just lock your doors and your car. The only time anything bad happens is when someone forgets to lock up. Be aware of your surroudings, not everyone around you is going to care what happens to you. As long as you don't deal or steal, you'll be fine in Baton Rouge.

[LSU Tiger Z71]

Originally Posted by tbtbtaylor

Also, I had read on some posts from 2007 that the crime was up due to and increase in population from katrina victims...i was wondering if that has quieted down at all, or if this influx of people is still an issue for the city.

No. Not really. What are you expecting? To be mugged in the street by a Katrina victim?

Its kind of odd from my viewpoint for someone from out of the area to seem scared of Baton Rouge. I can see it for only certain places in New Orleans, but even New Orleans is pretty safe except for some really rough edges.

People are going to get murdered in Baton Rouge, perhaps exery other day, but as a LSU student-- you're not apart of that.

[tbtbtaylor]

not exactly thinking that i'm going to be mugged by a katrina victim (not sure where that came from) it's just that some of the posts i have read had talked about the huge population increase with katrina refugees (and with increased population, comes increased crime). I was just wondering, as an outsider, if most people that had called BR their temporary home post-katrina had moved on, or if many had taken up roots there.

[LSU Tiger Z71]

Originally Posted by tbtbtaylor

not exactly thinking that i'm going to be mugged by a katrina victim (not sure where that came from) it's just that some of the posts i have read had talked about the huge population increase with katrina refugees (and with increased population, comes increased crime). I was just wondering, as an outsider, if most people that had called BR their temporary home post-katrina had moved on, or if many had taken up roots there.

Chill brah. There are a bunch of people from Katrina that continue to live in Baton Rouge. A lot in Houston and other places as well. Do you think a scary, let me say it, black Katrina victim is a concern? You wouldn't be concerned if it was an influx of whites, I bet?

[tbtbtaylor]

wow, implying racism really makes me excited to move to the city. I would be concerned of a significant rise in crime in any city I was planning on moving to...I would think that would be a standard concern of most. I don't care if you are black, white, latino, asian or what have you, if you are mugging me I am going to be concerned with it.

All I am asking is for some constructive advice on my original post. your advice on avoiding Gardere was helpful...the rest of this is just making me wonder if everyone down there will be as unhelpful as you have been.

[tbtbtaylor]

Also, to add to my original post, when people mention 'anything north of FL blvd' does that refer to literally EVERYTHING north of FL...or is it just the first few blocks above FL blvd are bad? Thanks.

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by tbtbtaylor

Also, to add to my original post, when people mention 'anything north of FL blvd' does that refer to literally EVERYTHING north of FL...or is it just the first few blocks above FL blvd are bad? Thanks.

Most things north of Florida inside of the city are no good. Exceptions are Spanish Town and a few others right on the border than are still mostly dominated by old people. As you go farther east, past Airline, the north of Florida neighborhoods start to get better, but most still aren't recommendable from my standpoint. Most rural areas in the northern part of the parish are A-OK, as well as Zachary and Central. Baker isn't a total cess-pit yet, but I'm afraid it's getting there.

[darylwi]

Perhaps I suggest you go back and reread many of the posts concerning Baton Rouge, especially within the last year, and not concentrate yourself on things that were going on several years ago. I think you both are making way too much of an issue about 'Katrina victims'. Gustav happened 9 months ago and BTR turned out just fine in the aftermath.
So far, all of your answers to questions you ask are on various posts. I can't count the times there are posts concerning bad areas of town. Now if you provide more precise locations of your questionable residence north of LSU we can be of more service and perhaps tell you whether we know of good or bad things about a complex, or neighborhood.
Short answer: if you're south of Roosevelt (north of LSU), you should be fine. I don't know what kind of housing you're going to find that close to LSU that isn't mainly students however.