Crime in AZ? (Phoenix, Taylor, Miami: relocate, high crime, assess)

[relocate07]

Wow! I have been on this website looking around for a few days and it seems as though Pheonix is the crime capital. After reading all of the posts I think I may be afraid to move here and i live right outside of Richmond VA. Can anyone tell me anything good about living in or around Pheonix?

[scottie]

Originally Posted by relocate07

Wow! I have been on this website looking around for a few days and it seems as though Pheonix is the crime capital. After reading all of the posts I think I may be afraid to move here and i live right outside of Richmond VA. Can anyone tell me anything good about living in or around Pheonix?

Im about ready to stop coming on these boards because of how people make crime look in Phoenix. Im very familiar with Phoenix and spend a significant amount of time there and let me say this for the millionth time on this board. It is not 1/15th as bad as people make it out to be. It is so overdone and I just cant believe it. Everyone is scared of their own shadow. I know about Richmond, VA and can assure you that crime is no worse in Phoenix than in Richmond. Dont listen to these people who are paralyzed by fear of crime, Moderator cut: personal insults I dont want to come around as if there is NO crime in Phoenix, but if you watch where youre going and watch your mouth, you will not have any problems

[ejk]

This site uses FBI stats. With the exception of auto theft, Phoenix comes out looking much safer than Richmond.

Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed

[sablebaby]

Scottie is right. In your day to day life, you will probably not be affected too much with crime, unless you live in total ghetto. But if you're coming from a small town that is a safe place, it will be different.

[Robin Holland]

I've actually found 'Steve22' to be quite helpful in my research, and I haven't seen anything that he has made-up at all. Most of what I have seen him post has either been his own personal experiences, or facts that can be supported.

Originally Posted by ejk

This site uses FBI stats. With the exception of auto theft, Phoenix comes out looking much safer than Richmond.

I don't think it comes out looking 'much' safer as both places are very dangerous it seems, and also because you're only comparing one part of Phoenix. The 'city' of Phoenix may be better than Richmond, but only 1,500,000 people live in the 'city' of Phoenix, while about 3,900,000 live in the greater Phoenix metropolitan statistical area.

The thing about Phoenix it seems is that there are 'ghetto' areas mixed in throughout the entire metropolitan area, which is unique to other cities, so because of this, it's more accurate to compare the entire metroploitan area in my opinion. When this is done, Phoenix is in the top-25 most dangerous metropolitan areas in the country, and of cities that also have more than 3 million people, only Detroit and Miami are rated worse.

This can be seen here...

http://www.morganquitno.com/cit07pop.htm#METRO

The state of Arizona is also rated as the 4th most dangerous state in the country, and only Nevada, Louisiana, and New Mexico are considered worse...

http://www.morganquitno.com/dangsaf06.htm

[ejk]

Originally Posted by Robin Holland

I've actually found 'Steve22' to be quite helpful in my research, and I haven't seen anything that he has made-up at all. Most of what I have seen him post has either been his own personal experiences, or facts that can be supported.I don't think it comes out looking 'much' safer as both places are very dangerous it seems, and also because you're only comparing one part of Phoenix. The 'city' of Phoenix may be better than Richmond, but only 1,500,000 people live in the 'city' of Phoenix, while about 3,900,000 live in the greater Phoenix metropolitan statistical area.

The thing about Phoenix it seems is that there are 'ghetto' areas mixed in throughout the entire metropolitan area, which is unique to other cities, so because of this, it's more accurate to compare the entire metroploitan area in my opinion.

Well sure, any time you look at a larger city you need to assess the entire metro area and not just the city proper.

It really is a matter of perception. I've driven through some of the Phoenix "ghetto" areas and I didn't think they looked as bad as Cabrini Green, Robert Taylor (both now gone) or a lot of other parts of Chicago that I've seen. Not everyone will agree with me there, I am sure. For total crime, Arizona is pretty high up there, unfortunately. But for violent crime, which is where my main concern lies, it is not so bad.

[jco]

There are good parts and bad parts of Arizona. If you've lived in a decent area before, the crime is probably bad. Outside of the bad parts of Phoenix, the crime is basically car theft (we're number one), robbery, and enemies commiting crimes against each other.

but if you watch where youre going and watch your mouth, you will not have any problems

For the most part this is true, but in some areas it was not. I've actually been a victim of a violent crime, and didn't even know the person that did it.

The point is that some areas have very, very little crime. If you stay in these areas, you'll probably be fine. The bad parts are bad, though.
I've heard that Richmond is very high on the crime list, though, so it may not be much different!

[scottie]

Originally Posted by Robin Holland

I've actually found 'Steve22' to be quite helpful in my research, and I haven't seen anything that he has made-up at all.
The thing about Phoenix it seems is that there are 'ghetto' areas mixed in throughout the entire metropolitan area, which is unique to other cities, so because of this, it's more accurate to compare the entire metroploitan area in my opinion. When this is done, Phoenix is in the top-25 most dangerous metropolitan areas in the country, and of cities that also have more than 3 million people, only Detroit and Miami are rated worse.

First of all, I have directly proved Steve22 wrong on some of his "facts" and he has even written me messages saying he made a mistake. I come back the next week and he is posting the same junk. He hates Phoenix and will do anything to make it look bad.

Second, I would LOVE for some of you guys who are raving how terrible Phoenix is to spend JUST ONE WEEK in the inner-cities of places like Miami (where the entire county is all hispanic and black) Detroit (you think Phoenix is a ghetto?), Cleveland (you will see the definition of poverty), LA, Compton, Inglewood, Hawthorne (where gangs will shoot at you for fun and to get thier stripes), Chicago (murder capital of America), Atlanta, New Orleans, Philadelphia/Camden NJ, St Louis, Gary Indiana etc....
I can guarantee that after one night you would be BEGGING to get back to Phoenix. I hate to sound mean, but Ive been all around Phoenix, in the really bad and really nice areas. You guys HAVE NEVER seen a true ghetto and never seen a true hood. Moderator cut: racist implications You wouldnt survive one day in any of those cities without have the living crap scared out of you.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by scottie

First of all, I have directly proved Steve22 wrong on some of his "facts" and he has even written me messages saying he made a mistake. I come back the next week and he is posting the same junk. He hates Phoenix and will do anything to make it look bad.

Second, I would LOVE for some of you guys who are raving how terrible Phoenix is to spend JUST ONE WEEK in the inner-cities of places like Miami (where the entire county is all hispanic and black) Detroit (you think Phoenix is a ghetto?), Cleveland (you will see the definition of poverty), LA, Compton, Inglewood, Hawthorne (where gangs will shoot at you for fun and to get thier stripes), Chicago (murder capital of America), Atlanta, New Orleans, Philadelphia/Camden NJ, St Louis, Gary Indiana etc....
I can guarantee that after one night you would be BEGGING to get back to Phoenix. I hate to sound mean, but Ive been all around Phoenix, in the really bad and really nice areas. You guys HAVE NEVER seen a true ghetto and never seen a true hood.

26 years in NYC

[Cj81]

I completly agree with Scottie, people on this site drive me nuts talking about crime in Phoenix. I live in central Phoenix, downtown, most people think I live in the ghetto. I think most people in Phoenix assume any area that has buildings that are more than 10 years old is ghetto. Phoenix may have some bad neighborhoods but no ghettos. Its obvious to me that anyone that says Phoenix has high crime is just repeating what they hear on the news or they have never been to any other city. I'm not going to argue about this anymore.