Crime and Pittsburgh - Increasing? (Dallas: crime rate, living in, groceries)

[PApisces]

If you guys think Pittsburgh's crime is bad, you should look at Dallas, TX sometime. The local news is so sad and depressing with all the violent crime that I no longer watch it!

Like you said in another post above. "Stranger=Danger" is the BEST way to approach life anywhere. Whereever we go these days, crime seems to be on the rise. I always remember Oakland as being very dangerous, even when I was going to Pitt in the 90's. Most of the apartments are owned by slumlords who take advantage of the College student's desire to live close to campus. Combine that with TONS of alcohol and you have a ready-made disaster waiting to happen!

I am sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble with your landlord letting you out of your lease. If they aren't a big management company, they will never report you to the credit bureaus. I knew many people who skipped on their leases for various reasons. I myself did so once because we rented a very nice apt and didn't know that the landolord was a drunk who lived on the third floor and was stealing our heat!

[fleetiebelle]

I've lived in Pittsburgh (within city limits) for going on 8 years, and the worst that's happened to me is my car antenna was stolen three seperate times when I lived in Mt. Washington.

I work in Oakland, and I'm always cautious, but I think there are a lot of petty criminals who prey the fact that college students aren't very street smart--they leave valuables in full view in their cars, they don't lock their doors and windows, they're more intent on listening to their iPods and cell phones than paying attention to their surroundings. Plus, when a neighborhood is so transient, people don't really have a stake in keeping it safe.

[pitt_transplant]

I dont know if he will give us a problem. Right now its just my black and white options on paper. I have had to break leases before because of issues at other places. Both landlords were not happy about it but a little bit of crying and having a panic attack in front of them can go a long way. The landlord we have now is generally a nice guy. I just think he has too many properties to keep up with the maintaince cost. He cant control random crime. As they say s*** happens. It is a smaller management company. Not a large one like walnut capital or anything. In the past as long as I was out and had the place neat as a pin the other landlords were fine with that. I really think they may just be thankful the place isnt wrecked and a former tenant doesnt make a big stink on message boards or fight them in court about it. It could be worse. At least with this place there is an option to leave the place without legal ramifications. Even if we do have to pay through the nose. and really with the deposit its only 1000$. Thats only pennies when it comes to personal safety. I may even offer to clean other apts that are empty in the building just to be nice. I do think I will have a crying freak out panic attack if he acts like a jerk about it. But im hoping he wont. I dont think he could expect some tiny chick to feel comfortable coming home at night when her big boyfriend just got mugged in the middle of the day.

Im also glad that we didnt buy a bunch of new things to decorate this place. All our stuff is on its last leg that we do have so i am LOVING there is a dumpster out back where i can just chuck it all so we can start fresh in Squirrel Hill and go on an Ikea shopping spree.

I agree with the Oakland thing and its transient nature adding to the element of random things happening there. Niave students too adding to the easy mark. I do think the mugging here happened because of the Ipod earphones being out and he had a bookbag type thing on his back. Threw that thing out..lol

The bad things that have happened in Squirrel Hill have been obvious. They happened at night to people walking alone or to "theft trendy" property unattended and in full view at night.

One thing that really shocked me here is people..young teeny women run along frick park at night on that road that goes from Wilkinsburgh to Squirrel Hill. You cant see crap at night back there and those creepy stone walls...perfect for someone to just hang out behind and wait for a victim.

With this new place i am going to make a check list to take with me to go over and check out the building/area in depth a lot more than I have in the past.

We moved into this place in a haze and a rush as i was only sleeping every other day for a couple hours at the place before because out loud tenants and things going on outside.

[PApisces]

Originally Posted by pitt_transplant

With this new place i am going to make a check list to take with me to go over and check out the building/area in depth a lot more than I have in the past.

We moved into this place in a haze and a rush as i was only sleeping every other day for a couple hours at the place before because out loud tenants and things going on outside.

One thing I used to find very helpful was to go to the new apartment building on a Friday/Saturday night at 11 pm or midnight. THEN you can get a better feel of what the neighborhood is REALLY like!

[pitt_transplant]

OoH! Thats going on the to do list. Good idea...I would of never thought of it being stressed out the way I am right now...but now for getting back here...EEK EEK EEK!
taxi! hee hee

[Agbor]

As to crime increasing in Pittsburgh..a theory I heard was that larger cities are getting more of a handle on crime..so the criminals are moving to smaller unprepared cities to
set up shop...

As far as Oakland is concerned, its a case of petty criminals taking advantage of naive students(in a large number of cases) who do dumb things like leave doors open, saw one once with a checkbook flapping out of the back of his napsack, walked by a ground level student apartment...no one home,but curtains wide open anyone could walk by and see
the tv,stereo,computer in the living room and no one home...

Mostly its guys (or gals) trying to run some money hustle with me..was in the drug store once..guy and gal just walking around..I go to the check out line..clerk gives me $2.41
back in change this *&%$# is behind me in line(NOT buying anything)..sees the change on the cash register,as I walk out of the door,she then proceeds to ask me if I can spare
$2.41!...I gave her an extremely nasty vulgar look...she waits until I get to the light and proceeds to cuss me out an call me names...

In Oakland its alot of panhandling,I have seen people open up their wallets and purses and give these clowns money...one girl likes to work the hospitals ,I've seen her
working the area..so when she approached me..I said "Don't even try it"...Now, when she
sees me, she says "hey" I say "hey" back and keep walking

Crime is increasing because you have a greater number of underclass dysfunctional people who have no work ethic and have learned to hustle to survive since youth...

you have always had this element in society but it seems there is more of that element
nowdays...

[oktaren]

I'm not sure if it is going up, since i have only lived here 6 months or so, but it is much higher than i figured it was when everyone told me that pittsburgh has very low crime.

[vwscottie]

Originally Posted by Agbor

As to crime increasing in Pittsburgh..a theory I heard was that larger cities are getting more of a handle on crime..so the criminals are moving to smaller unprepared cities to
set up shop...

A very sad fact I found out while mountain biking in the Pocconos last year.

It seems as though alot of the trash that was swept out of NYC set up shop in a lot of little mountain towns in the eastern part of our commonwealth. Very sad.

[PApisces]

Originally Posted by oktaren

I'm not sure if it is going up, since i have only lived here 6 months or so, but it is much higher than i figured it was when everyone told me that pittsburgh has very low crime.

You just seem to hate everything about Pittsburgh, So I am not sure that your opinion is really all that viable. ;-)

BTW, on an-off topic note: If you are still looking for a doc, I found at least 2 Docs that ARE accepting new patients and can see you in a few days. PM me if you want the names. :-)

[oktaren]

Originally Posted by PApisces

You just seem to hate everything about Pittsburgh, So I am not sure that your opinion is really all that viable. ;-)

BTW, on an-off topic note: If you are still looking for a doc, I found at least 2 Docs that ARE accepting new patients and can see you in a few days. PM me if you want the names. :-)

Well, doesn't everyone hate crime? I never said it was terrible, but when I was thinking about moving here everyone said it had extremely low crime. I tend to disagree. It doesn't have terrible crime by any means, but it isn't low either.

Actually i went to medi help on sunday. $10 and i got in and out, no appointment necessary. Seems as if I have strained the cartilage in my throat from screaming out in the woods and somehow my sinus infection moved into that area as well. Nothing to worry about.