3rd in the nation? (Mobile, Prichard: transplants, rent, lawyers)

[southernnaturelover]

Most of the crime is from the same places that it has always been. Most of the victims were probably also hanging around with shady characters and up to no good.

Stay out of the bad areas and pick your friends wisely and you'll be okay. Other than that just use common sense, watch your surroundings if you're in a Wal-Mart parking lot at 10pm, stay out of gas stations late at night unless there's plenty of people around, etc. Heck, I live in a small town of only 7500 people and we have reports of gunshots here just about every weekend, just had a murder last week, but it doesn't affect me because I stay out of the areas where it happens.

[PortCity]

Mobile counties population is 406 K Oscottscotto. I am aware of per capita and all but the current murder rate is around average considering the fact Mobile county has been slowly growing in population. The 2008 murder rate wasn`t an outlier from the past years at all, Nor is the county murder rate of 65. The 200 K that was mentioned as of Mobile city proper is actually over 250 K. Beacuse unincorporated areas such as Semmes, Tanner Williams,Tillmans Corner, and parts of Theodre are all included in Mobiles police jusrisdiction.


Mobile is a safe city and most of the occuring crime happens in the same isolated areas with people they know. It all evolves around drugs it`s not random it`s ether retaliation or someone cheated the big guy out of drug profits.

[midtownruth]

Originally Posted by Mr crabb

A Murphy High School teacher was robbed this morning.Lovely Midtown.

Murphy High School teacher robbed this morning on campus, police say - Breaking News from the Press-Register - al.com

Crime can happen anywhere.

Wanted fugitive from Foley tracked down in Birmingham by bonding company, booked into jail - Breaking News from the Press-Register - al.com

Private investigator says Daphne terror suspect linked to jihadist Web site - al.com


DUI bail revoked for Fairhope man charged with hitting bicyclists in Point Clear - Breaking News from the Press-Register - al.com


That said, we definitely need to do something. We need some undercovers or something.

[enide2]

Originally Posted by oscottscotto

Mobile Has 3rd Highest Murder Rate - Mobile Alabama - WKRG.com

3rd highest murder rate in the nation for 2008 among metropolitan areas?

Geez ... guess Katrina did bring alot of New Orleans residents over for good.

I know statistics can be misleading, and since it measures metropolitan areas it includes Prichard ... but still. That has got to improve.

Any current locals want to put their $.02 in on this? I know first-hand that Mobile is not dangerous in most areas of town, but talk about a statistic that could scare away newcomers.

Ok will be newcomer in the next 6 months (scared!). But I must ask this and I know there are no valid reasons or rationalizing crimes but I wonder how many of these were from people putting themselves in harms way (such as females going out jogging at 4/5 am, leaving babies or purses unattended in front seat of car while going inside to pay for gas, leaving home front doors unlocked or better yet open, taking 'shortcuts' through dark alleys to shave/save a few minutes?
A neighbor was able to stop a man from shoving a 5 year old boy into his van who just happened to be walking to school yesterday (in Florida). Is it just me or is that too young to be walking to school alone (in these days and times). Maybe its me, maybe I watch too much tv, or too many movies like Son of Sam but you have to admit when you see the news reports on these incidents you wonder what people are thinking.
Sorry I wrote so much that was more like 5 cents

[midtownruth]

As stated, I'm sure the vast majority happened in places you would expect, many connected to drugs (whether that be from a high or over money). I would like to see the stats, to see the numbers of predictables, the accidents, what crimes were included, what ones were random/suprising, etc.

Once again, I do not feel unsafe in Midtown. Use common sense, ie don't go to the sketchy gas station at night alone. If I were to worry about any crime (which I don't), it would be minor stunts such as stealing yard equipment, maybe stealing the radio from a car.

[Croye22]

Agreed. Back in my hometown, majority of the crimes happen in the same general areas which are known for shady activity.

And then like someone said, common sense - don't go to certain gas stations at night, watch surroundings, etc.

[oscottscotto]

Guys I agree with the whole "crime only happens in certain areas" and "use common sense". Heck, do that in New Orleans or Chicago and you will be okay. I would never fear for my life at all in Mobile, AL lol.

But no one is addressing the core issue here. How did Mobile go from #39 to #3 in the nation in murder rate? I know Mobile is safe in 75% of the areas. That's a given. But what concerns me is the overall rate, no matter if it's due to drug crimes, localized beefs between hoods that no normal people go to, etc. Let's get down to it. #3 in the nation is not good. New Orleans has been #1 for years, and look at the rep New Orleans is getting around the nation.

Let's take a different spin on this. How do you think Mobile can regain control of the problem areas and move back towards a respectable position like #39 instead of #3?

[midtownruth]

That a tough'n. More cops, better paid cops, better trained cops, better detectives, more undercover cops, education, grassroots programs, harsher punishment, less welfare.. I don't know. Actually I think some of it is the hood vs hood crap or gang rivalries, which I can't begin to understand. Maybe we shold set up some apprentice schools and start training kids form an early age (not child labor or anything, like high school kids) for jobs in fields such as engineering and welding and stuff. Maybe we should give scholarships to those who actually care/try. Sam Jones has tried to help some, such as in Gunproof Mobile, or whatever the name is.

[humacaena]

Making excuses for crime is not good. In Puerto Rico, an island of less than 4 million, there are an average of 800-900 murders a year...and the people say, "it's because of drugs". Yes...drugs play a big role, but one can not excuse it, one needs to stop it.

Rudy Guliani diminished crime in New York city by starting with the petty crimes...graffiti, ect...and the crooks got the message. Our leaders need not to put their heads in the sand, and confront crime, no matter how petty.In Mobile, there are quite a few incidents of purse snatchings in nice malls, in broad daylight.Stores get robbed quite often, many during the day...ect. Please do not minimize crime, no matter how petty. All the murders do not happen in Pritchard, all the carjackings do not happen in bad areas. If Mobilians want to stop crime, you need to NOT excuse, or point fingers, or say there was an incident in Daphne, or any other petty excuse.It's your city...get real and get involved. I saw my place of birth(that I left 45 years ago)go from a beautiful happy place to a 3rd world country, drug infested, crime jungle. But many there think the same way...and make excuses.And murders increase every year.....SAD...very sad.

[midtownruth]

Originally Posted by humacaena

Making excuses for crime is not good. In Puerto Rico, an island of less than 4 million, there are an average of 800-900 murders a year...and the people say, "it's because of drugs". Yes...drugs play a big role, but one can not excuse it, one needs to stop it.

Rudy Guliani diminished crime in New York city by starting with the petty crimes...graffiti, ect...and the crooks got the message. Our leaders need not to put their heads in the sand, and confront crime, no matter how petty.In Mobile, there are quite a few incidents of purse snatchings in nice malls, in broad daylight.Stores get robbed quite often, many during the day...ect. Please do not minimize crime, no matter how petty. All the murders do not happen in Pritchard, all the carjackings do not happen in bad areas. If Mobilians want to stop crime, you need to NOT excuse, or point fingers, or say there was an incident in Daphne, or any other petty excuse.It's your city...get real and get involved. I saw my place of birth(that I left 45 years ago)go from a beautiful happy place to a 3rd world country, drug infested, crime jungle. But many there think the same way...and make excuses.And murders increase every year.....SAD...very sad.

Right, we aren't saying all crime is in Prichard or that crime can't happen anywhere. Also, simply saying much of the crime is connected to drugs is not excusing it or writing it off, it's stating. Of course we need to do something. If you notice a few posts above we were addressing it (and yes it was casual, but I don't if I want to have a protest in front of the mayor).

Not sure how much the general public really can or should get involved, and just saying we need to doesn't offer much in the way of suggestions or ideas or examples. But, of course, we could always flee to the Eastern Shore.