Experiences with Philly Crime (Lancaster, Penn: apartment, fingerprints, violent crime)

[KK1553]

I am a surburbanite who certainly possesses "common sense", but who would not be considered city-savvy. While I have visited numerous cities, I have resided in the suburbs/rural areas my entire life. I admit to being naive when it comes to urban living. I am considering moving to various "safe" parts of Philly, but I'm wondering (to those currently residing in Philly):

What are your personal experiences with crime in Philly? Can anyone offer some examples of things that have happened to you or people you know?

I understand that most crime happens between criminals in bad neighborhoods, but what about us regular folk? There is plenty of discussion on the topic of safety, and from what I gather, the general advice is always "use common sense" or "don't walk down dark alleys at night", etc. I understand all that. What I'm more interested in is specific personal experiences with Philly crime against average, non-criminal people like myself, not just general advice on how to avoid it. Maybe this is all very naive, but that's why I'm asking

[lititzman2003]

Originally Posted by KK1553

I am a surburbanite who certainly possesses "common sense", but who would not be considered city-savvy. While I have visited numerous cities, I have resided in the suburbs/rural areas my entire life. I admit to being naive when it comes to urban living. I am considering moving to various "safe" parts of Philly, but I'm wondering (to those currently residing in Philly):

What are your personal experiences with crime in Philly? Can anyone offer some examples of things that have happened to you or people you know?

I understand that most crime happens between criminals in bad neighborhoods, but what about us regular folk? There is plenty of discussion on the topic of safety, and from what I gather, the general advice is always "use common sense" or "don't walk down dark alleys at night", etc. I understand all that. What I'm more interested in is specific personal experiences with Philly crime against average, non-criminal people like myself, not just general advice on how to avoid it. Maybe this is all very naive, but that's why I'm asking

That's a tough question to answer. Crime can happen anywhere to any person. Some areas of Philly, like North and West Philly, have more crimes of various types committed more often then some other areas, like Roxborough and the Far Northeast. If you live in what is considered to be a "safe area" it doesn't exclude you from possibly being the victim of burglary or larceny. Commercial establishments in ANY part of city could be robbed at any time of the day. While I was growing up in SW Philly in the '70's my sister had her car broken into and we had some minor vandalism to our house. But when I lived in Mayfair in the '90's no one on our block had any issues so I guess there's no rhyme or reason to it. My mother in law lives in Bustleton and she's had two cars, a hanging plant and a picnic table stolen. I honestly don't think any area of Philly is safe at night, especially if you're walking alone. Criminals don't stay in a specific part of the city. Wish I could give you more then this; sorry.

[KK1553]

Thanks for the input; I only ask because all the talk of safety and the advice of "use common sense" just sort of sets an "...or else" sorta tone, and I'm wondering what the "...or else" can turn out to be. I guess I'm just wondering about the nature of Philly crimes-- what various sorts of crimes have occurred to non-criminals such as myself, and in what parts of the city. There's a big difference between pistol-whippings/rapes/etc. and having a hanging plant stolen/car broken into. Thanks for the information!

[juniperbleu]

In the early '90s our house was robbed. The main thing that made it scary was that we were home (parents were outside, I was playing inside). We didn't see or hear the guy. Someone also stole some of the copper drainpipes off of our house at some point (late '90s-ish). A few years ago my dad's car window was smashed (parked in the driveway), but nothing was taken. He doesn't keep much in there, and they didn't bother trying to take the radio or anything. This is all for East Oaklane (near Olney just off N. Broad Street). There have been instances of more violent crime nearby, but it's fairly rare for that area (police officer was killed last year when he walked in on a burglary at Dunkin Donuts on Broad Street, someone was shot about 8 or 10 years ago when he caught someone trying to steal is car at 4am).

Outside of that area, I know people in Mt. Airy or Chestnut Hill who got some outdoor decor stolen, or something to that effect at some point. Similar sorts of things in the Northeast, and my parents' house in Cherry Hill was robbed once or twice in the '70s-'80s. I don't know anyone personally who was a victim of violent crime.

[solibs]

I've had two bicycles stolen in the last 7 years. Last week someone took one of the flower pots off my steps and threw it in the middle of the street.

The flip side of that is that I've lost 4 cell phones and one digital camera in the last 8 years and had all but one phone found & returned to me. The one I didn't get back was one I left on the bus on the way to the airport.

This isn't my experience with crime but I have neighbors a block down who were "broken" into twice in one week. They caught the guy (fingerprints) a few weeks later. He lived behind them. The first time he saw that they all left the house to go out and climbed in a second floor window with a ladder that some roofers had left two doors down. He stole a laptop from a bedroom before being chased out of the house by their 100 lb. shepherd/lab mix who usually hangs out on the first floor. The second time he came in through the doggie door on the first floor. He waited until they took the dog out for a walk and got their TV.

I also know two people who were mugged (before I knew them). They both happened about 4 years ago and one was near 40th & Lancaster (which even now isn't a great neighborhood) and the guy was going out on a friday night, walking to the trolley, with his headphones on. My friend saw the perp about two blocks earlier but didn't realize he was being followed. The perp flashed something that looked like a gun. My friend didn't argue, he just gave up $40, walked a few more blocks and called the cops. After that my friend moved to Bella Vista.

My other friend got mugged in Bella Vista. Near 10th & Fitzwater at around 10pm on a Friday night on his way home from happy hour. It was a strong arm deal. He said 3 guys cornered him, never showed any weapon or anything. They just said very quietly and calmly, "give us your money". He said there were plenty of other people around but that he was too drunk to make any sort of coordinated effort to yell and/or try to get away so he thinks they made off with about $50.

It might sounds intense to an outsider but, considering the few hundred friends, family and acquaintances that I know, some of them who have been living here their entire lives and most of whom have been here 5-10 years I think it's telling that those two guys are the only two people I know who've had a brush with violent crime.

I tell everyone the same thing . . . if you're visibly intoxicated and you have a long walk, get in a cab. They're everywhere and they're cheap. Don't walk around at night with headphones on. Even if you are sober and you aren't wearing headphones you still shouldn't take long, solitary walks in borderline neighborhoods. Call a cab or invest in a bicycle.

I don't want to make it sound like if you break one of the rules that you're going to get mugged or that following them means you never will. It's just appropriate caution. I'm just saying that, for me and the people I know, that's the type of violent crime that we consider a possibility, however remote, so we're careful.

[juniperbleu]

I forgot to mention another "friend-of-a-friend" experience. The other year at St. Joe's there was a rash of crime where this group of kids liked to pick up a student, drive them to an ATM, empty his/her account, and then dump them off somewhere. One of the victims was my friends' good friend (I'd met him once or twice). They caught them a few weeks later because one tried to re-use a stolen card or something and gave the others up. That's the worst thing that happened to someone I (sort of) know. Luckily they didn't hurt them, it was just frightening.

As I said, this was in West Philly by St. Joe's University. I think they were all walking off campus, probably on City Ave. It sounds very scary, but if you keep in mind that I and most of my friends grew up in Philly, and this is the only one I know of who had something happen.

[KK1553]

Thanks! This is exactly the kind of info I was seeking. The impression I got from other threads was "don't walk alone at night with headphones on, or else.... [ambiguous / nameless / unknown perils await you.]" Coming from the burbs/more rural areas, my main concerns at night are not hitting deer when driving-- getting some real examples of what could happen in terms of Philly crime is very helpful!

[Philly Dave]

I think it does make a difference to some extent whether you are a man or a woman. When I was a student at Penn, I knew a handful of females who were mugged; usually just a guy grabbing a purse and running to get some easy cash. However, I knew at least two women who were assaulted. Personally I have never been a crime victim even though I have occasionally had to venture into some sketchy areas at night, but just having to look over your shoulder all the time wears on you. However, if you stick to the safer neighborhoods, you should not have any problems.

[From Philly]

While out walking about, definitely be aware of your surroundings! And DO NOT walk along like you are scared. Look people in the eye when passing and even from across the street. These thugs tend to go after those who appear clueless/not aware/scared/etc.

Having said that, I know people who have been mugged, have had their purses stolen, homes broken into, NUMEROUS car thefts, cars broken into, my sister and her friends were held up at gunpoint (while in a park), lawn type furniture stolen off of porches (in daylight), etc.

We personally have had our car stolen and broken into many times.

All that in "supposed" nice neighborhoods (Tacony, Mayfair and other areas even further up that are supposed to be even nicer).

[orrmobl]

Let's see. My friends who live in Port Richmond have had hubcaps stolen, Jeep hard top slashed and car stereo stolen.

My cousins who went to school in University City had airbags stolen from one car, multiple batteries from the other - the thieves usually smash a window to gain access...this also happened to another friend of mine who lives in a questionable neighborhood.

Another friend was held up at gunpoint walking alone on a Saturday night off campus at St. Joe's. One of my professors was also held up walking from the Overbrook train station to St. Joe's to teach a night course - bear in mind this would've been 6-8 PM.

Another friend from Drexel had her apartment robbed 3 times in a month - the thieves just kept coming back to steal what they couldn't carry the previous time - or to steal the items bought to replace what they had stolen! She finally moved home just to avoid being robbed any more.

It seems in general the city is more dangerous for students, because they are dumb and go to school in bad areas, and women because they also become too comfortable in their environment and take risks that they shouldn't - they forget that they could be being stalked etc and run or walk alone in the early morning or late evening, or just plain get unlucky while traveling alone.

Unfortunately one never knows when the next rape or mugging spree is going to start up again - I really don't know how people stand living in the city with the current lack of adequate policing...