Scary, high crime areas of Charlotte? (Henderson, King: middle-class, appliances, houses)

[beckybee22]

What part of the Charlotte area is "scary"? Where do the gangs live/hang out and where are the drive by shootings? I'm just curious because I haven't seen anything close to that anywhere around here yet and would like to know where its at so I can avoid living near there. Typically "scary" parts of a city look scary (bars on windows, broken down cars and appliances in yards, chain link fences around the front and back yards...etc.). I have yet to see that here. I'm seriously thinking that people who think Charlotte has high crime have never seen real crime and are from po-dunk little towns...
So, am I missing something? Or do I really have nothing to worry about here as long as I lock my doors and car at night (which comes automatic to me). People on this forum said these neighborhoods are scary: Kingstree, Northridge Village, Henderson Oaks, Peachtree Hills, Brookmere, Stewart's Crossing, Cambridge, and Creekside at Coulwood...I've driven through Kingstree, Peachtree Hills and Brookmere...and thought they looked decent with cute houses. Some of the yards weren't well kept but I certainly didn't feel afraid for my life driving through there.

[SunnyKayak]

Dont live near the big blue dots of the crime map
or where you can connect alot of dots and hopefully you will be ok.

Crime Mapping

[the 7 oh 4]

They do exist.

[VaTechKA]

Don't convince yourself that the only people who think Charlotte has high crime are people from "po-dunk" towns. Some areas can get scary. The area that I live is not that bad, but in the last week or two there has been a murder, a few armed robberies, a drive by, and a stabbing all within the vicinity of my house. This is alongside the crimes that did not receive media attention. Don't write Charlotte's crime off as being no big deal, because you might be unpleasantly surprised. If you're interested, Charlotte's biggest problem is repeat offenders and low $ for bail. Criminals shoot people or rob people at gunpoint and then are able to get out on an inexpensive bail to do it again - over and over.

[beckybee22]

Thanks for that map sunnykayak!

I know crime exists here, there's crime in every city. It just seems like Charlotte's crime is not so bad compared to places I have lived. Of course, the safer the better, but I'm just not worried here like I was when I drove around LA.

[VaTechKA]

Originally Posted by beckybee22

Thanks for that map sunnykayak!

I know crime exists here, there's crime in every city. It just seems like Charlotte's crime is not so bad compared to places I have lived. Of course, the safer the better, but I'm just not worried here like I was when I drove around LA.

It's interesting that you say this. My current roommate just moved here from LA and he has been far more threatened and scared than he ever was in Los Angeles. I too have spent a good amount of time in Los Angeles, and I also feel that Charlotte seems a bit more dangerous in some senses. We definitely have more crime per person than Los Angeles.

[TheEmissary]

The scary part about Charlotte is how hard it may be for people new to the area to spot a "bad" area. Some of the worst places to live have a "surprisingly good" middle-class facade to them. If you were expecting the bad areas to resemble what you might see in Detroit or an episode of "The Wire", you're not going to find them. Some advice given to me by a "native Charlottean" was that you know you live in a bad area when it sounds like there is a "Fourth of July" celebration going on, and it's not the Fourth of July. Those are guns going off, not fireworks!

[VaTechKA]

Originally Posted by TheEmissary

The scary part about Charlotte is how hard it may be for people new to the area to spot a "bad" area. Some of the worst places to live have a "surprisingly good" middle-class facade to them. If you were expecting the bad areas to resemble what you might see in Detroit or an episode of "The Wire", you're not going to find them. Some advice given to me by a "native Charlottean" was that you know you live in a bad area when it sounds like there is a "Fourth of July" celebration going on, and it's not the Fourth of July. Those are guns going off, not fireworks!

To support this, go drive through Wesley Heights, other ares of West Charlotte, and Hidden Valley.... The houses and yards seem pretty decent, right? These are some of the higher crime areas. Hidden Valley has the "cute" little brick houses that many of us desire. Appearance isn't everything.

[mullman]

Originally Posted by TheEmissary

The scary part about Charlotte is how hard it may be for people new to the area to spot a "bad" area. Some of the worst places to live have a "surprisingly good" middle-class facade to them.

Exactly.

I could jog to the home off Providence Road where the family was held at gun point a few months ago, that was very shocking for this area which historically has been quite safe.

But then again I recall, circa 1987, a home on Carmel (near Colony) where a man killed his wife and burned her body in a 55g drum in the garage. It made the national news and really frightened us since we lived around the corner at the time. I drive past that house frequently and wonder if the people who currently reside there know their home's history. But I suppose you cannot categorize domestic violence and random crime as the same.

When I was a child, crime on the nightly news was always near La Salle Street, but now it is just down the street.

[the 7 oh 4]

Originally Posted by VaTechKA

To support this, go drive through Wesley Heights, other ares of West Charlotte, and Hidden Valley.... The houses and yards seem pretty decent, right? These are some of the higher crime areas. Hidden Valley has the "cute" little brick houses that many of us desire. Appearance isn't everything.

Wesley Heights is a changing though...prices have soared. Now Hidden Valley even has their own gang..."Hidden Valley Kings"