CHARLOTTE : What is your take on the crime here? Is it REALLY an issue compared to other city's? (violent crime, credit)

[Pikitina]

We are ready to move to CLT- just waiting to find a tenant for our place in Los Angeles. I was born and raised in Argentina, lived now for almost 8 years in LA and are in my mid-30s with DH and 2 toddlers.
I am used to being careful and not naive about crime- I grew up in a huge South American city, probably comparable to NY, and I never had a crime issue. I never really felt unsafe in LA either.

But reading about crime in CLT, particularly home invasions, worries me quite a bit. I'm afraid to make a very bad moving decision...

On the other hand, when we visited CLT earlier this year I didn't feel unsafe at all, and driving though several neighborhoods in South CLT seemed so peaceful, with children playing in front yards, etc. It seemed to me that people were relaxed and you could let your kids ride their bikes to the neighbors'...
Not sure where I'm going with this post, sorry. I do realize I cannot base my move on this subjective topic and some opinions on a forum, but most of the posters here are so helpful that I wanted to vent a little and see what responses I might get.
Thank you!

[pink caddy]

Originally Posted by gizmobizmo

As a new resident, I have been following stories on the news and posts on CD regarding crime in and around the Charlotte, NC metro area. Although I am well aware that crime is everywhere, I'm trying to gain a better understanding of why this city has a higher crime rate than many others. (This is based solely on the information I have been reading. I'm not bashing Charlotte in any way and have found it to be pretty nice overall with a great deal to offer.)

According to a recent report I read, Charlotte does have a higher than average crime ratio. The report did not say if the crime is higher per capita overall, compared to other cities or if they are comparing violent crime only.
So, I have a couple questions I'd like to ask.

1. What do you think are the driving forces behind the crime here?
(Not enough police presence, too much growth and not enough
resources, liberal judges and juries, not enough work to sustain the available workforce, etc.....Any thoughts you'd like to
share?)

2. How does Charlotte's crime compare to other MAJOR metro areas
of comparable size. (I want to know if folks are comparing apples to
apples or are we being compared to "Mayberry" USA, which isn't a
reasonable comparison)

3. Is the city trying to repair it's image as being crime-ridden? What
are our public officials doing to address the problems that you
know of?
(Have there been any reports of the city officials trying to get a handle
on the problems? Heard there was a new police Chief: Does he have a
different approach to dealing with the issues compared to his
predessor? ETC.......)

4. Do you think newcomers are just apprehensive because of all the negative press regarding crime here, overinflating the issue, because they are on unfamiliar ground?

answered here:The Nation's Two Crime Measures - Crime in the United States 2004 (http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_04/appendices/appendix_04.html - broken link)

[FlightAttendant]

I feel a lot safer here than I ever did in Baltimore, the home of high neighborhood crime. I lived in the city and believe me, I had a whole lot more worry there than here.

Like others, I have a gun and yes, I WOULD use it if I had to. My life is worth more to me than the life of someone breaking in to do me harm.

Ani..Hug a thug..love it. Sadly, its SO true.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Pikitina

We are ready to move to CLT- just waiting to find a tenant for our place in Los Angeles. I was born and raised in Argentina, lived now for almost 8 years in LA and are in my mid-30s with DH and 2 toddlers.
I am used to being careful and not naive about crime- I grew up in a huge South American city, probably comparable to NY, and I never had a crime issue. I never really felt unsafe in LA either.

But reading about crime in CLT, particularly home invasions, worries me quite a bit. I'm afraid to make a very bad moving decision...

On the other hand, when we visited CLT earlier this year I didn't feel unsafe at all, and driving though several neighborhoods in South CLT seemed so peaceful, with children playing in front yards, etc. It seemed to me that people were relaxed and you could let your kids ride their bikes to the neighbors'...
Not sure where I'm going with this post, sorry. I do realize I cannot base my move on this subjective topic and some opinions on a forum, but most of the posters here are so helpful that I wanted to vent a little and see what responses I might get.
Thank you!

I totally understand your concern. I live in S. CLT in a very quiet neighborhood. The only sounds are things like leaf blowers, lawn mowers, kids giggling while on bikes . . . we all walk our dogs in the evenings, meet and greet often in the streets to talk w/ neighbors . . . work out in our yards. That is the way it has always been in my area - crime was never something we thought about. I certainly did not think about it when I moved back here. Like most cities, there are areas that are known to be "hot spots" for criminal activity and where drugs are present . . . and I have never ventured into those areas and don't plan to venture into them.

But it so happens that in the last 2 years . . . these young, brazen thugs - almost always under 25 y/o - have decided to invade the burbs. They have ripped off houses in broad daylight . . . and in some cases . . . w/ the homeowners standing there dialing 911. They are arrogant and have no conscience. They have laughed at homeowners who returned home to find their belongings being carried out! The stuff they have been going for are plasma tvs, xboxes (game systems in general), computers, jewelry. I guess that stuff is easy to sell on the street. Our police dept. has managed to round most of them up. Things immediately quietened down once one group was apprehended. Then another group was apprehended this last week . . . they had been on a shooting spree w/ some area businesses, both in CLT and in SC. They are in jail now in SC.

The thugs steal cars and then go on create a crimefest . . . Some of the crime appears to be plotted out and some appears to be crimes of opportunity. They see a garage door open . . . and walk in. There is one group that was caught several months back - and they seem to be the ones who were doing the home invasions we were experiencing back in the Spring.

My point is . . . there are criminals invading areas that have never been known to have problems w/ crime. Sure, there have always been "robbers" around, but basically they are the types that do not want a home owner around. They sneak in and sneak out. These brazen young thugs seem to enjoy the drama of crashing down doors or pulling guns on shop owners. They WANT to create a big scene. Traditionally, thieves want to go unnoticed. So this is what we are contending with - a different breed of thugs.

My neighborhood has never had any of this happen. There was one house at the entrance of the neighborhood that was burglarized in the past. We all assume that occurred b/c they were near a main road and an "easy hit."

It seems there are two types of residents in my neighborhood, something DH and I put together recently. There are those who are fully aware that just b/c we are in what has always been a safe area - that anyone can be a victim of crime. Those homeowners have security systems, watch who is coming and going, have great safety habits (cars locked, no open garage doors, front door locked, etc). Then we have some others who seem to just not get it and in every case, they are newcomers. What surprises us is - most of the people who act totally La La about safety are empty nesters or retirees. They moved here from higher crime areas and think they are totally sheltered b/c they are in the burbs. They concern the rest of us b/c they go out walking at nite w/o flashlights, leave garage doors and front doors open, leave cars unlocked and think anyone who owns a firearm is a nutball or redneck. They do NOT live on my street and I am so glad. We are in a subdivision at the back of another subdivision, and the homeowners in our section are vigilant, plus at least four of us work at home, two are retired couples, and the rest are SAHMs. So our houses are all occupied during the day. We notice who is coming and going. And we call police if there is a strange car hanging around or solicitors going door to door.

That is my advice. Move to an area where others are paying attention. The areas that get hit most often have people living there who are being very casual about things like leaving their curtains/blinds open so thugs can see that plasma TV. Just pay attention and have a good neighborhood watch. Of course, even tho we do all the right things, bad stuff can still happen. But realistically, the thugs go where they feel they can get in and out easily, and can get a good haul of merchandise in a quick fashion. Also, I have done some crime mapping and the subdivisions hit are usually near major thoroughfares, so easy ingress and egress.

The good thing is . . . PD is fully aware of the methods these thugs are using and so they are encouraging neighborhood watches and they are also alert to suspicious activity.

So my advice to anyone who is worried about living here . . . get to know your neighbors, use sensible safety precautions and then go about your life. That is what we are doing! Once the thugs realize that we homeowners are not such easy targets, so to speak, they are going to back off. Plus, they are being rounded up.

Don't worry about moving here as far as crime.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Pikitina

We are ready to move to CLT- just waiting to find a tenant for our place in Los Angeles. I was born and raised in Argentina, lived now for almost 8 years in LA and are in my mid-30s with DH and 2 toddlers.
I am used to being careful and not naive about crime- I grew up in a huge South American city, probably comparable to NY, and I never had a crime issue. I never really felt unsafe in LA either.

But reading about crime in CLT, particularly home invasions, worries me quite a bit. I'm afraid to make a very bad moving decision...

On the other hand, when we visited CLT earlier this year I didn't feel unsafe at all, and driving though several neighborhoods in South CLT seemed so peaceful, with children playing in front yards, etc. It seemed to me that people were relaxed and you could let your kids ride their bikes to the neighbors'...
Not sure where I'm going with this post, sorry. I do realize I cannot base my move on this subjective topic and some opinions on a forum, but most of the posters here are so helpful that I wanted to vent a little and see what responses I might get.
Thank you!

Try not to be so worried! Home invasions in Charlotte are actually not very common at all. It is home burglaries that have been the problem over the past year or so - most theives don't want to run into you anymore than you want to run into them We have a new police chief who is working hard to get that problem under control too. You are moving to a very nice city!

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

Try not to be so worried! Home invasions in Charlotte are actually not very common at all. It is home burglaries that have been the problem over the past year or so - most theives don't want to run into you anymore than you want to run into them We have a new police chief who is working hard to get that problem under control too. You are moving to a very nice city!

You are totally right and perhaps I didn't emphasize enuff that the home invasions have been b/c of a VERY SMALL GROUP of thugs. And PD is getting them off the streets - we know that, b/c they are reporting it to us.

[engineman529]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Well, we have had so many discussions on here about crime . . .

Young thugs seem to be the recurring problem of late.

Revolving door . . . PD picks them up and DA's office pleads them down . . . back on street.

Hug-a-Thug mentality . . . let's all show perps more love . . . wh/ doesn't work w/ violent offenders (not talking about addicts here . . . totally different story - they can be helped and should be helped).

I get in trouble every time I state this, so please - I do not mean to offend anyone - this is just my theory . . . Newcomers move here from areas where no one owned a gun . . . they are often very opposed to gun ownership (wh/ I totally understand - safety reasons, especially, so not putting anyone down) . . . but the thugs figured out that they can break into homes, steal property and even commit acts of violence b/c homeowners have no firearms. This is my theory based on growing up in this region. . . and I promise you, it used to be thugs knew they would get blasted w/ a shotgun if they crossed a threshold w/o an invitation. So I personally think that brazen young thugs, who seem to think brandishing a weapon in a stolen vehicle and intimidating homeowners and ripping off their expensive electronics - is an acceptable past time . . . They have discovered the burbs and found they can kick doors down, threaten homeowners and nothing will happen. Police have a huge territory to cover so even w/ an alarm . . . you are gonna be on your own for a while b/f PD can arrive.

Now that is my theory and it is not meant to deride anyone's decisions about gun ownership. I respect each person's reason for or against owning a firearm, and I would like to add that while my kids were small, I had no guns in the household. However, we also lived in an area with very low crime.

Until we get the thugs off the streets and out of our neighborhoods . . . we will continue to have these strange home invasions and assaults on business owners/patrons. How do we get them off the streets? These guys need to be identified b/f age 12 . . . the ones w/ a propensity to violence and anti-social tendencies . . . and even then, I don't know what can be done but help them stay in school and get an education . . . Once they become perps, the Revolving Door kicks in . . .

I personally think we need a new DA. Again, just my opinion.

Very good post anifani. Couldnt of said it better myself.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Gun and big dog. The smallest of my 3 is a pitbull and he likes to look out the front window at anyone who comes near the house. I don't imagine anyone hearing a deep bark from inside is going to try that house, it's just easier to go somewhere else. Not that the problem is solved, just for those of us who have dogs and guns. The dogs and my gun move with me.

[Pikitina]

Thank you for the input, specially Ani and Loves, always very appreciated!
I just need to find a tenant in LA now , I'm sooo ready for CLT!

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Pikitina

Thank you for the input, specially Ani and Loves, always very appreciated!
I just need to find a tenant in LA now , I'm sooo ready for CLT!

Good luck with finding a tenant! Hopefully, it will all fall in place for you soon. And glad you feel more reassured that there is not rampant crime all over Charlotte.