[valicky]

New to these boards.
I've lived in Dade for 32 of my 45 years. Crimes we've encountered personnally: my son's tricycle was stolen from our front yard about 15 years ago, someone tried to steal our old used garbage can, (my husband saw them and got it back ), and one night a year or so ago someone was going into backyards in my neighborhood that weren't fenced in and taking tools. Not too bad for 32 years. We've left our doors unlocked so many times (forgetfullness) and even have left our keys in the front door! Cars have been unlocked too many times to count. I'm 5'0 and 90 lbs and go to the groceries, Target, etc at 9-10 pm by myself, never have had a problem with anyone. I'm in W. Kendall. Yes, there are bad areas, just like in any city. No reason to go there. I'm not a huge fan of Miami, but safety has never been one of my concerns. Maybe I live in a delusional dream world.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by valicky

Maybe I live in a delusional dream world.

You might want to avoid the Miami forum, unless you absolutely hate every other thing about Miami.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by valicky

New to these boards.
I've lived in Dade for 32 of my 45 years. Crimes we've encountered personnally: my son's tricycle was stolen from our front yard about 15 years ago, someone tried to steal our old used garbage can, (my husband saw them and got it back ), and one night a year or so ago someone was going into backyards in my neighborhood that weren't fenced in and taking tools. Not too bad for 32 years. We've left our doors unlocked so many times (forgetfullness) and even have left our keys in the front door! Cars have been unlocked too many times to count. I'm 5'0 and 90 lbs and go to the groceries, Target, etc at 9-10 pm by myself, never have had a problem with anyone. I'm in W. Kendall. Yes, there are bad areas, just like in any city. No reason to go there. I'm not a huge fan of Miami, but safety has never been one of my concerns. Maybe I live in a delusional dream world.

That is interesting since Kendells crime rate is 2 1/2 times the national average, both violent and property crime. I can appreciate you take it personal when where you live is being knocked but you have to live in the real world. Who are all those people being raped and murdered then, are they making it up?

[backtofla]

interesting about aluchua/gainesville... i'd feel safer in gainesville (in general) than in orlando, miami, tampa, ft lauderdale, riviera bch.

[KELLI2L]

In Palm Beach the trouble areas are:
- parts of Delray Beach
- parts Lake Worthless
- Riviera Beach
- Lake Park area - now known as North Palm Beach (pitty) because before the NPB politicians took over the Lake Park area, Village of NPB was unknow to the masses and very exclusive, it still is exclusive in the very northern sections.

[debntx]

Originally Posted by FL_TN_Nana

Here's another chart showing crime by counties through 2006:

Total Index Crime by County, 2006

Orange is still #1 -- guess we all just know the areas to avoid! The high crime areas really do tend to be in the same places, year after year. It just gets more frequent.

Duval is #2 -- Jacksonville

Miami Dade is #3

Manatee is #4 (!?) -- Bradenton

Alachua is #5 -- Gainesville

Thanks for sharing the link! I just had to go look at it to check out Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Bay, and Escambia

[valicky]

Originally Posted by macguy

That is interesting since Kendells crime rate is 2 1/2 times the national average, both violent and property crime. I can appreciate you take it personal when where you live is being knocked but you have to live in the real world. Who are all those people being raped and murdered then, are they making it up?

I can't say that I know, just stating my personal experience. I'm a night owl and do everything late, much to my husband's dismay. I've never, ever had any problems with anybody. I've never felt unsafe in my neighborhoods. The only violent crime I've been exposed to was once someone didn't pay a mechanic a repair bill and the mechanic apparently was crazy and came after the family. The were outside arguing and he ran into the wife and pinned her to the wall with his car. It wasn't pretty. But this crime was between pwople who "knew" each other, not random. If you're into the drug culture, naturally you'll also attract those unsavory elements too. I didn't say the reports were lies. There is crime here, like any city with millions of people has. But you don't have to live in fear thinking something is going to happen at every turn. Be sensible. Stay out of crime ridden areas, don't mess with certain types of people, etc.
I don't take it personal when someone says something bad about Miami (it's usually true )- for the most part, I don't like it here. But one thing I can't complain about is not feeling safe. I have no qualms about getting in the car right now with my kids and going to B & N to pick up the Harry Potter book. I couldn't do that if this area was so "dangerous."

[compelled to reply]

It's interesting to see peoples perceptions. Even though Orange is the most dangerous county statistically, it got only 3 votes. Duval got no votes, even though it was second most dangerous out of the states 10 largest. Dade is by far in the lead, and its crime puts it in 3rd place out of the states 10 largest counties. Interesting to see Palm Beach garnered so many votes. West Palm is really bad, probably the worst in the state, but overall, it still managed to creep in 4th out of all of these. The only county out of all of these to have crime below the state average was Broward, and (to my surprise, considering what many people think of the crowded, minority majority but rather safe county as a whole), it garnered no votes so far. Peoples perceptions are interesting! Good night, cant wait to check again tomorrow.

[compelled to reply]

Wow, Miami Dade still by far in the lead. No Duval (unsurprising) or Broward (surprising) votes yet.

[Sarasota_Blues]

Originally Posted by valicky

I have no qualms about getting in the car right now with my kids and going to B & N to pick up the Harry Potter book.

You'd actually go to B & N to get the Harry Potter book right now? God help you if you actually got a copy of that book, and others didn't. You'd get mugged before you even got back to the car. Talk about living dangerously!