[Hanne]

I've been pouring over stats comparing cities on the east and west coasts of MI. It looks like there is quite a difference in crime....with there generally being more on the eastern side of the state. What's up with that? Is that accurate? Is the higher crime rate enough to give one pause at moving to some of those areas? I'm not referring to big cities, but small ones that you wouldn't expect to see these kinds of numbers.

Here's one example:

East Tawas
http://www.city-data.com/city/East-Tawas-Michigan.html
U.S. average: 327.2=======East Tawas is 363.9 for 2004

compared with Manistee, which was scored 144.7 for 2004
http://www.city-data.com/city/Manistee-Michigan.html

[jomaco1]

When you consider that much crime is drug or gang related, it stands to reason the small towns nearest the large metropolitan areas like Detroit will get the most run-off. Here in Muskegon, we frequently see arrests of Detroit residents and other crime tied to Detroit in some way. Manistee being even farther from Detroit and quite a bit more remote, is probably not as lucrative.

Or maybe its just because everyone's busy fishing or boating.

[chiroptera]

Originally Posted by jomaco1

When you consider that much crime is drug or gang related, it stands to reason the small towns nearest the large metropolitan areas like Detroit will get the most run-off. Here in Muskegon, we frequently see arrests of Detroit residents and other crime tied to Detroit in some way. Manistee being even farther from Detroit and quite a bit more remote, is probably not as lucrative.

Or maybe its just because everyone's busy fishing or boating.

Yup.
Also, isn't the east side of the state less economically well off, generally? That would explain it too.

[Hanne]

I imagine you're prolly both right. Yikes! Out of curiosity I looked up Muskegon. A crime score of 628.2 for 2004, with 327.2 being average in the U.S. (On city data's website: http://www.city-data.com/city/Muskegon-Michigan.html

[chiroptera]

Originally Posted by Hanne

I imagine you're prolly both right. Yikes! Out of curiosity I looked up Muskegon. A crime score of 628.2 for 2004, with 327.2 being average in the U.S. (On city data's website: http://www.city-data.com/city/Muskegon-Michigan.html

Interesting. I haven't compared to see if they weight violent crimes (murder, rape, assault) higher than property crimes.
Flint's overall score is 799 compared to Muskegon's 628. However Flint had 31.2 murders per 10,000 compared to Muskegon's 2.5, while Muskegon's thefts per 10,000 were twice as many as Flint's. (These numbers are making my head spin!)
I'm thinking I'd rather have something stolen than be killed.
And PS, I've lived in Flint for almost two years and haven't been killed yet, although I did have a ladder stolen from my driveway.

[Hanne]

travelling paws, I didn't look to see the breakdown (crimes) either. After looking up Detroit's numbers, Muskegon's starting to look like Mayberry.

Flint for 2 years, eh? Well at least you weren't on the ladder at the time. <g>

[Sunswan]

I have also noticed the crime numbers being very high in areas where I really didn't think there was much crime. (like South Haven) I think that what we're seeing is a lot of theft in the areas of higher tourism. A lot of the cities by the Great Lakes seem to have high crime numbers, especially in theft. Keep in mind, that if a cooler gets stolen (or lost) on the beach, then that would be considered a reported theft.

I'm a little surprised that "Detroit" crime would be carried over to Muskegon. In my limited experience with Detroit proper, it seems that their violent crime is pretty isolated to the City. However, it is my understanding that the drug traffic is spreading to the suburbs and beyond. Recently, a Linden family who had moved from Detroit was found growing marijuana plants in their basement... 87 of them!

But I think it's important to look closely at the numbers and what kinds of crimes are being reported (theft vs. murder or rape) and use your best judgement. Also, take a look at the surrounding areas. For example, Flint, MI (799) vs. Flushing, MI (66.5), they're only 10 miles away.

[mariatherese]

Originally Posted by Sunswan

Also, take a look at the surrounding areas. For example, Flint, MI (799) vs. Flushing, MI (66.5), they're only 10 miles away.

Yes, I agree. For example, I work and go to school in Detroit, a city with one of the worst crime rates in America- but live in Troy, a suburb that is considered to be the "safest" city in Michigan... only 15 miles away.

[chiroptera]

Good points.
And even within Flint (or Detroit) it's going to depend where you live. I own a house in a marginally ghetto-y area & have lived here...two years come November; murders and shootings have happened within blocks of me. In fact someone was shot and critically wounded on my block several weeks ago. And recently I woke up to find an AK47 lying right in front of my driveway. It was being guarded by two of Flint's finest - a double murder went down about a mile away, the shooter took off driving and tossed the gun out.
Yet just a few blocks away is the border of the "college cultural" neighborhood. Very nice homes, quiet, tidy streets, lots of college professors, lawyers etc live there. Shootings don't happen in that hood! And while Flint overall is rather blighted, there's large swathes of quite safe, clean neighborhoods within the city proper.
Anyhow, here's the thing I think a lot of people forget. The crime stats don't reflect the whole city, just portions of it. Victims of violent crimes are rarely random, but known to the assailant. If you a: live in a really bad part of a city, and b: live a lifestyle that puts you at risk, you're more likely to become a statistic. With very few exceptions, victims are involved in drugs or gangs, drink a lot, are poor, unemployed and undereducated, go regularly to the clubs in the 'hood, etc.
If you are not in that demographic, live in an OK area and are reasonably prudent, there's not much to worry about.

[Angel Bear]

Lots of times, the property crimes inflate the rest of the crime statistics. I live in one of the safest suburbs in the United States which is in Metro Detroit. But, things like petty theft, people breaking into cars, etc. inflate the crime stats.

Statistics can be very misleading...