Montgomery Village Crime (Baltimore, Germantown, Olney: townhome, neighborhood, high school)

[pythagras]

So my wife and I are considering some homes in Montgomery Village in Montgomery County. Whats the crime situation there like? I've heard horror stories about nearby Germantown, specifically the Middlebrook area, here:

Moving to Germantown - Topix

Does this leak into Montgomery Village? What areas should we avoid?

One area we are considering are the single family homes between Apple Ridge Rd and the Montgomery Village Golf course. During the daytime it seems like a beautiful neighborhood, what about at night?

Here is the area we are considering:
Montgomery Village, MD, United States of America - Google Maps

Thanks for any info

[wolfwalksfar]

Hi Pythagaras-
Have you come across any good information on this area. I am also considering a townhome in this area about 1.5 miles from Watkins Mill High school on Apple Ridge. I've just joined in hopes of getting some information on the area. An initial drive around has me excited, but I'm sure there is lots more to learn. Thanks!

[ebo202]

When I want to check out what the neighborhood is like, I go to the local grocery stores and check 'em out. Check out the cars in the parking lot, the condition of the store, the demographic of people. The way I see it, no matter how rich or poor you are, educated or uneducated, you gotta shop somewhere. It's a good slice of the neighborhood.

Oh and just to clarify what i mean by that... If i go to my local grocery and see a lot of expensive or late model cars in the neighborhood, I know it's a pretty affluent. If I go inside and see a huge organics department, I know people in this neighborhood provide a demand for healthy food. Conversely, if I go to my local grocery and see lots of people loitering outside or shopping carts pushed well into the neighborhood, I'd steer clear.

Hope that helps!

[Joykins]

I live near this area. I would not avoid it. If you look in the police log you will see where the crimes cluster--the same road names and areas pop up regularly-- and it isn't in this part of the Village. However, there is is some walk-through crime because no one lives in a bubble.

[alyce]

I've lived there before and dealt with the kids from the Watkins Mill High school. I was warned right after we moved there, and we left a year later.
I would avoid living there like the plague. People had already started hightailing it out of that area four years ago, so now is probably downright scary.
Check very, very carefully, and try to interview some people when you visit. Don't let the idealic appearance fool you--things can get real interesting around there after five o'clock. (I lived it, so I emphasize this point).

[macroy]

wow... that's sad to year. I actually lived there as a kid. In fact, I lived right off of Apple Ridge Rd. William Range to be exact. My house was the first one right there on the corner of Apple Ridge Rd and Darlington Drive (basically right behind the Williams Range sign).

But this was also 25 years ago.... It sad to hear that things have gone "down hill". It was a great neighborhood back in the day..... I think we moved because my mom heard that they were building a high school down the road.

[pythagras]

Originally Posted by Joykins

I live near this area. I would not avoid it. If you look in the police log you will see where the crimes cluster--the same road names and areas pop up regularly-- and it isn't in this part of the Village. However, there is is some walk-through crime because no one lives in a bubble.

This seems to be our experience thus far. We ended up in East Village, and haven't had any problems thus far. The area around Lake Forest seems a bit rough (the closer you get to over there, the rougher it seems), and the shopping centers over are depressing. However, there are plenty of other good shopping options such as Milestone, or even Olney for us where people are friendly and seem happier.

And when I say "rough" I don't mean I fear getting shot, I mean more like I get two syllables from the cashier, the area is not kept up well, things are generally unpleasant, people are grouchy. Nothing like what I've seen in Baltimore or what I've heard about SE DC.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by pythagras

This seems to be our experience thus far. We ended up in East Village, and haven't had any problems thus far. The area around Lake Forest seems a bit rough (the closer you get to over there, the rougher it seems), and the shopping centers over are depressing. However, there are plenty of other good shopping options such as Milestone, or even Olney for us where people are friendly and seem happier.

And when I say "rough" I don't mean I fear getting shot, I mean more like I get two syllables from the cashier, the area is not kept up well, things are generally unpleasant, people are grouchy. Nothing like what I've seen in Baltimore or what I've heard about SE DC.

Yeah, the areas by Lakeforest are bad. There actually have been a few shootings.

[lscalder]

Folks complain about crimes around Lake forest but the media have not mention anything about crimes or rough areas around Lake forest. I wonder why the crimes have kept a secret?

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by lscalder

Folks complain about crimes around Lake forest but the media have not mention anything about crimes or rough areas around Lake forest. I wonder why the crimes have kept a secret?

http://www.gazette.net/stories/11150...22_32369.shtml