Question about Rockville (Montrose/Randolph & Rockville Pike) (Garrett Park: apartments, work)

[krnpimpsta]

Hi, I found a great deal on an apartment (to rent) about half a mile north-east of the Montrose/Randolph and Rockville-Pike/355 intersection. The apartments look great and the price is amazing. However, a coworker warned me that it is in the "bad" part of Rockville.

He said west of 355, on Montrose is good, and that east of 355, on Randolph, is bad.

Right now, I live in Garrett Park, maybe a mile south of this place, and I don't have any problems. The only thing I'm worried about is getting my car broken into. I am unusually paranoid about that.

I do not really understand the concept of parts of towns being good or bad, so can someone please explain to me what's bad about living east of 355 on Randolph?

I have no kids, I am 25, male, and intimidatingly built figure. I'm not worried about my personal safety, but I am VERY concerned about the contents inside my car. (The car is insured, its contents are not)

Thanks in advance,
Steve

[krnpimpsta]

Also, I should add, I am somewhat worried about my apartment being broken into, but I just don't hear about that happening as much as car audio theft. Is there any way I can look up statistics on crimes such as home-burglary and car breakins by town or zip code or anything?

[TrippingJay]

Do you know the name of the complex? There are a few off Twinbrook Parkway that are relatively safe and quiet. I wouldn't worry too much about problems here. The population may be more "working class" than the rest of Rockville, but overall it's a good area.

Check with the the Montgomery County Police department for crime reports, or I believe you can look on CrimeReports.com

[krnpimpsta]

That's cool, doesn't bother me.. I just don't want my car broken into.. I will check out CrimeReports.com. I think the demographic I'm more wary of is "spoiled rich kids with no morals" more than any socio/economic/racial group.

BTW, it's the "Villiage Square West" apartments.. are you familiar with that area?

Thanks for your help, by the way.

[TrippingJay]

If it's Village Square West, you should be fine. There may be some walk-through crime that occurs, but other than that nothing serious. I looked at these when i was renting in 05-06 and while the apartments were nice, I thought it was a little high for what you got. However; they may be offering better deals due to the economy.

You might also want to look at Rollins Park or Miramount apartments on the other side of the Pike as I think these are in the same price range as Village Square West. King Farm up the Pike is nice and very safe but it's further up and you might deal with the "rich, spoiled kids"

[FrankLaw]

Originally Posted by krnpimpsta

That's cool, doesn't bother me.. I just don't want my car broken into.. I will check out CrimeReports.com. I think the demographic I'm more wary of is "spoiled rich kids with no morals" more than any socio/economic/racial group.

I don't think you're going to have problems with spoiled kids in that area. If anything, whatever crime you encounter (and it won't be much) will be from kids of working class families.

BTW, it's the "Villiage Square West" apartments.. are you familiar with that area?

Thanks for your help, by the way.

I'm familiar with it and I think it's fine. I know a few people who have lived there for years without incident.

The thing about the east side of 355 and the west side when you're talking about Rockville is portions of the east side can look downright beat down when you compare them to neighborhoods just a half mile away to the west. But everything's relative. They're still not awful neighborhoods. Rockville is a relatively safe town anywhere you go.