how is the crime there? (Denver, Aurora: relocation, travel, income)

[gpraceman]

Originally Posted by tfox

I realize this is an old thread, but the original poster asked about crime, and newportbeach tells us about signs in Spanish. (!)

Racial and ethnic stereotyping, anyone?

I guess that flew over my head, because I can't guess what you are referring to.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by gpraceman

I guess that flew over my head, because I can't guess what you are referring to.

I think Tfox was referring to Newportbeach's comments about signs in Spanish; I agree those comments were unecessary.
I've lived in the 'burbs of Denver and central Denver and experienced crime in both. My mom was beaten up within an inch of her life in south Denver, but I think a lot of this had to do with the fact that they lived in a corner house.
Where we lived near Cherry Creek, petty street crime constantly occurred, but there was more serious stuff as well, including armed robbery.
While she was at work, a neighbor across the street had her washer and dryer (of all things!) stolen in broad daylight. Cars were broken into about twice a year.
It's just urban life, you deal with it.

[tfox]

Crime is a serious problem that has to be addressed. As others have said, I think that the metro area as a whole and Denver as a city have less of a problem than other cities, but it still is a problem.

By the way, by far the highest (statistical) crime area in the metro, and it's really not even close, is the "Sun Valley" area in West Denver. It's west of I-25 and South of Mile High Stadium till about Alameda or so, extending west to Federal Boulevard.

I actually see quite a bit of the neighborhood as it has great produce markets, shopping, and restaurants, particularly at the very southern end around Alameda and Federal. If you dare, I'd encourge you to go visit (in daylight) as it does have a lot to offer. But the stats don't lie -- this is the most crime-ridden area Denver has going right now.

[dodgerdogsforall]

Let's not get crazy. If anything, the "Spanish Signs" might (probably) indicates a lower income area (not a guarantee but probably). In So Cal that means trouble, see San Bernardino Inner City Pomona you get the idea if you know those areas. I don't know what it means for Denver. Compared to what I've seen in So Cal it's probably Disneyland. I live in Victorville now and I'd love to leave but out housing market here has slowed.

[fromthebay]

Originally Posted by tfox

Crime is a serious problem that has to be addressed. As others have said, I think that the metro area as a whole and Denver as a city have less of a problem than other cities, but it still is a problem.

By the way, by far the highest (statistical) crime area in the metro, and it's really not even close, is the "Sun Valley" area in West Denver. It's west of I-25 and South of Mile High Stadium till about Alameda or so, extending west to Federal Boulevard.

I actually see quite a bit of the neighborhood as it has great produce markets, shopping, and restaurants, particularly at the very southern end around Alameda and Federal. If you dare, I'd encourge you to go visit (in daylight) as it does have a lot to offer. But the stats don't lie -- this is the most crime-ridden area Denver has going right now.

on the maps it looks like it has more housing projects than other areas... never been there but that may be a contributer

[DenverAztec]

Safest and Most Dangerous U.S. Cities, 2007

Safest City
1. Brick, N.J.
2. Amherst, N.Y.
3. Mission Viejo, Calif.
4. Newton, Mass.
5. Troy, Mich.
6. Colonie, N.Y.
7. Irvine, Calif.
8. Cary, N.C.
9. Greece, N.Y.
10. Coral Springs, Fla.
11. Thousand Oaks, Calif.
12. Orem, Utah
13. Round Rock, Texas
14. Dover, N.J.
15. Lake Forest, Calif.
16. Sterling Heights, Mich.
17. Simi Valley, Calif.
18. Roswell, Ga.
19. Lee's Summit, Mo.
20. Broken Arrow, Okla.
21. Chino Hills, Calif.
22. Gilbert, Ariz.
23. Edison Township, N.J.
24. Cranston, R.I.
25. Port St. Lucie, Fla.


Most dangerous
Rank/City
1. St. Louis, Mo.
2. Detroit, Mich.
3. Flint, Mich.
4. Compton, Calif.
5. Camden, N.J.
6. Birmingham, Ala.
7. Cleveland, Ohio
8. Oakland, Calif.
9. Youngstown, Ohio
10. Gary, Ind.
11. Richmond, Calif.
12. Baltimore, Md.
13. Memphis, Tenn.
14. Trenton, N.J.
15. Richmond, Va.
16. Kansas City, Mo.
17. Atlanta, Ga.
18. Cincinnati, Ohio
19. Washington, D.C.
20. North Charleston, S.C.
21. Reading, Penn.
22. Newark, N.J.
23. Little Rock, Ark.
24. San Bernardino
25. Orlando, Fla.

NOTE: Cities with 75,000+ population. The rankings are based on a city's rate for six crime categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. Source: Morgan Quitno Corporation. Web: www.morganquitno.com

Crime can happen anywhere, in any city town and at any time. Denver never makes it to the top 25 cities for either petty or violent crime when compared nationally, and never the best either. But in general, it is a very safe city as we have no slums or ghettos in the traditional sense (i.e. Cabrini Green-Chicago, Spanish Harlem-NYC, South Phoenix). More petty crime and white collar crime then anything - Nachos for Nachio? You need to avoid the government projects at night (Sun Valley, Five Points) just as much as you need to watch what could be slipped into your cocktail at a night club. Folks that move here from smaller town can find it intimidating but if you come from a larger city, you will find no problem as long as you remember to exert caution. Never say Never, as any kind of crime can happen, but preventative measures actually work.

[steveindenver]

I find the Colfax comments particularly entertaining. Having lived within a block or two of Colfax for over a decade in various locations, Capitol Hill and further east I've yet to experience a single issue related to Colfax; just diversity both from a socio-economic and racial perspective.

My attitude is, if you are one of those who looks upon an area like Colfax as nothing but crime infested and dangerous we greatly appreciate the fact that you don't visit us. People from the county can't park for **** anyway and are constantly taking up two and even three parking spots.

[DenverAztec]

So true SteveInDenver, can you imagine these folks in a larger city that is even more diverse?

[LoveBoating]

People will live where their income says or where they want to. We lived in Parker for 3 1/2 years because we could afford the area (just east of Wal Mart). Funny thing, I worked in Denver and a number of the Hispanics where I worked thought that my wife and I were totally rich because we lived in Parker. Not true, but we did make descent incomes that allowed us to live in a nicer area than some parts of Denver metro are.
And, sterotyping is going to happen no matter what race people are. There are signs in Spanish along Colfax just like there are signs in Vietnamese in Garden Grove, Calif. Some people will stay out of areas where business signs like these are seen and that is ok. Remember, this IS a "Free Country" and that means the freedom to go, or not to go, in certain areas of cities where crime has been reported as high.

Originally Posted by tfox

I realize this is an old thread, but the original poster asked about crime, and newportbeach tells us about signs in Spanish. (!)

Racial and ethnic stereotyping, anyone?

[Westyguy]

Denver is above the national adverage in every crime!! People who live in Cherry Creek or Highlands Ranch dont know what real crime is untill they go into the more lower income parts of the city! And who says that the suburbs dont have any crime? Has anyone ever been to south westminster, federal heights, thornton, or aurora??