Is There a Safe Neighborhood in Wilmington? (violent crime, credit)

[rubber_factory]

Wilmington seems about average in terms of crime, compared to other cities in the Carolinas I've lived in. I think some posters on this thread are overreacting about Wilmington's crime problem. I lived downtown the past two years. People will often get mugged walking around by themselves late at night, straying into the wrong areas. Not always, but for the most part, the really violent and crazy stuff happens several blocks deep into downtown, in Creekwood, or 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th street, Greenfield Street, McRae St. UNCW has some cheap multi-unit housing areas that have drugs, and sort-of high crime. You can definitely live in areas, though, where none of this is an issue.



In general, you don't have to be a big city to have gangs. My hometown in South Carolina of 30,000 people had at least a half-dozen gangs. Rural gangs are common as well.

You wanted links:

Code of silence leads to murder of unintended victim in gang feud | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC
Special Coverage: Gun Violence | StarNewsOnline.com | Wilmington Star News
'Code of silence' hinders police | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC
Family: Grace St. man harassed by gangs before shooting death | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC
Victim's aunt: Gangs threatening way of life | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC


I think there is one little neighborhood in Monkey Junction with gangs. I forget the name of the road. I'd say MJ is generally a safe area. I personally prefer areas like Seagate, Masonboro, Pine Valley, Windermere over MJ. But MJ has lower taxes, not being in the city.

[thefinalsay]

Originally Posted by rubber_factory

Wilmington seems about average in terms of crime, compared to other cities in the Carolinas I've lived in. I think some posters on this thread are overreacting about Wilmington's crime problem. I lived downtown the past two years. People will often get mugged walking around by themselves late at night, straying into the wrong areas. Not always, but for the most part, the really violent and crazy stuff happens several blocks deep into downtown, in Creekwood, or 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th street, Greenfield Street, McRae St. UNCW has some cheap multi-unit housing areas that have drugs, and sort-of high crime. You can definitely live in areas, though, where none of this is an issue.



In general, you don't have to be a big city to have gangs. My hometown in South Carolina of 30,000 people had at least a half-dozen gangs. Rural gangs are common as well.

You wanted links:

Code of silence leads to murder of unintended victim in gang feud | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC
Special Coverage: Gun Violence | StarNewsOnline.com | Wilmington Star News
'Code of silence' hinders police | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC
Family: Grace St. man harassed by gangs before shooting death | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC
Victim's aunt: Gangs threatening way of life | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC


I think there is one little neighborhood in Monkey Junction with gangs. I forget the name of the road. I'd say MJ is generally a safe area. I personally prefer areas like Seagate, Masonboro, Pine Valley, Windermere over MJ. But MJ has lower taxes, not being in the city.

but to say that wilmington has a gang problem is absurd. they have moderate crime, and I agree that theft and drugs are the biggest problems.

[Florida15]

Originally Posted by thefinalsay

but to say that wilmington has a gang problem is absurd. they have moderate crime, and I agree that theft and drugs are the biggest problems.

I'm sorry,but it's not absurd,it's the truth. They are even in Laney High School. They may not be as hard core and mean as some in other big cities-YET.......but they are true gangs that do VERY bad crimes.

[HomeSweetHomeNY]

I think if you just stay smart, don't be anywhere alone at night, avoid bad areas at all times, you will probably be okay.. just like anywhere else. Crime is also down this year in Wilmington I believe. They just had their first homicide of 2009 and we're already more than halfway into 2009.

[thefinalsay]

Originally Posted by Florida15

I'm sorry,but it's not absurd,it's the truth. They are even in Laney High School. They may not be as hard core and mean as some in other big cities-YET.......but they are true gangs that do VERY bad crimes.

nope. incorrect. anyone who says that there is some sort of gang "problem" here is doing nothing more than fear mongering. and I live in an area that you wouldn't walk around in at noon.

[robma44541]

Please don't imply that I use drugs, I am not guilty by association to any drug activity. My knowledge of the situation down town is through reading the newspapers and from conversations with my son who goes to CFCC.
I'm trying to answer the original thread question as honestly as possible and I never implied that we had a huge gang problem in Wilmington but the fact is we do have gang members and for you to suggest we don't is misinformation to the readers of this forum.

[thefinalsay]

Originally Posted by robma44541

Please don't imply that I use drugs, I am not guilty by association to any drug activity. My knowledge of the situation down town is through reading the newspapers and from conversations with my son who goes to CFCC.
I'm trying to answer the original thread question as honestly as possible and I never implied that we had a huge gang problem in Wilmington but the fact is we do have gang members and for you to suggest we don't is misinformation to the readers of this forum.

well, I live downtown, so..........also, they have gangs in mayberry. does that mean mayberry has a gang problem?

[goi_cuon]

Originally Posted by robma44541

"Wilmington’s estimated population of 100,192 as of last July ranked it the 273rd most populous city in the country. That also made it the smallest city with a count of 100,000 or more."
Please stand corrected about the population of Wilmington, this article was in the Starnews a couple of weeks ago.
You also seem to be misinformed that there is no gang activity in Wilmington, thank god we are not east L.A, NYC or Chicago's southside, but we do have a huge problem with drugs and where theres drugs sold on the streets there will be gangs involved!

Well you certainly put me in my place.

No one is saying that there isn't any gang activity in Wilmington. They are saying "show me." Show me something substantive.

Sperling's shows "Wilmington, NC, violent crime, on a scale from 1 (low crime) to 10, is 7. Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The US average is 3." - Wilmington, North Carolina (NC) - Sperling's BestPlaces

It doesn't say anything about gang activity, but it does give an idea about Wilmington's crime relative to the nation. Sperling's is reliable because they use authoritative data sources - Sperling's Best Places - Data Sources The same kind of data sources that your librarian would bring you to.

[robma44541]

Read Rubber-Factory's thread for information on gang activity in Wilmington, and nobody ever said there was a "gang problem" down town but that there are gang members in Wilmington.

[Florida15]

Originally Posted by thefinalsay

nope. incorrect. anyone who says that there is some sort of gang "problem" here is doing nothing more than fear mongering. and I live in an area that you wouldn't walk around in at noon.

I'm sorry,but if you deny there is a gang problem,you are in denial and living a fantasy. You better wake up,especially if you have children in public schools.