Crime... Why is it so high? (Miami, Tampa: crime rates, pharmacies, live in)

[PITTSTON2SARASOTA]

I moved here over 20 years ago from Scranton,Pa. a city of similiar size; the crime here still shocks me; especially relative to Scranton. As other members have said the transient nature of the population is a factor in the high crime rate. Our house has been hit with bullets and we live in a "good" neighborhood, our neighbors said they did not hear the multiple shots....because "they were waiting for a pizza"....whatever that means. However where I grew up the whole neighborhood would be trying to help, not hinder police and helping their neighbors; I think that sort of attitude or apathy contributes to the crime rate.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by PITTSTON2SARASOTA

I moved here over 20 years ago from Scranton,Pa. a city of similiar size; the crime here still shocks me; especially relative to Scranton. As other members have said the transient nature of the population is a factor in the high crime rate. Our house has been hit with bullets and we live in a "good" neighborhood, our neighbors said they did not hear the multiple shots....because "they were waiting for a pizza"....whatever that means. However where I grew up the whole neighborhood would be trying to help, not hinder police and helping their neighbors; I think that sort of attitude or apathy contributes to the crime rate.

Pittston - I think it varies by neighborhood. Back when we used to live in Laurel Park, we had an incredble problem with crime - too many transients in that neighborhood. Today we live up in Whitfield Estates, where a majority of residents have been here for decades and we have a real community spirit - all the neighbors are nice and look out for each other. But I have to agree that overall Sarasota does have a higher crime rate than some other cities it's size, but that is all over Florida, NOT unique to this city at all. As said before, it's due to the year-round warm weather, and number of transients moving through the area.

[PITTSTON2SARASOTA]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Pittston - I think it varies by neighborhood. Back when we used to live in Laurel Park, we had an incredble problem with crime - too many transients in that neighborhood. Today we live up in Whitfield Estates, where a majority of residents have been here for decades and we have a real community spirit - all the neighbors are nice and look out for each other. But I have to agree that overall Sarasota does have a higher crime rate than some other cities it's size, but that is all over Florida, NOT unique to this city at all. As said before, it's due to the year-round warm weather, and number of transients moving through the area.

We live in Laurel Park...so you do understand my point. And I agree but not just the transient people...but the transient nature of residents flip flopping here....and in the "Park"..I think that absentee landlords are a MAJOR reason for the high crime rate. We have some rentals that seem to have "new" tenants on a weekly basis..lol.

[Jimrob1]

Crime is very much related to the types of individuals that set up house keeping in communities, Plain and Simple. The words low income unfortunately have crept into American English, and are very much misused as far as I am concerned. Not everyone in lower incomes is trashy and prone to crime, and its very sad our society defines people in such a manner.


The reason both Sarasota and Bradenton have such high crime levels for small cities, especially Bradenton is obvious. Some real low lifes in large numbers obvioulsy moved in, and started taking over. It takes decent jobs in an area, support for schools, support and stronger demands by citizens to curb high levels of crime. And it takes very efficient Police Depts that make it clear they mean business with areas with high crime. If that means people have to pay more taxes for services to deal will this, then that is what you do. Its a combination of all of that otherwise you get what you get. That is why the crime is so high and I don't even live in the area. Its all over America not just Sarasota/Bradenton. I do think that some regions get hit harder by crime than others, but the reasons for it are all basically the same or similiar.

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

Crime is very much related to the types of individuals that set up house keeping in communities, Plain and Simple. The words low income unfortunately have crept into American English, and are very much misused as far as I am concerned. Not everyone in lower incomes is trashy and prone to crime, and its very sad our society defines people in such a manner.


The reason both Sarasota and Bradenton have such high crime levels for small cities, especially Bradenton is obvious. Some real low lifes in large numbers obvioulsy moved in, and started taking over. It takes decent jobs in an area, support for schools, support and stronger demands by citizens to curb high levels of crime. And it takes very efficient Police Depts that make it clear they mean business with areas with high crime. If that means people have to pay more taxes for services to deal will this, then that is what you do. Its a combination of all of that otherwise you get what you get. That is why the crime is so high and I don't even live in the area. Its all over America not just Sarasota/Bradenton. I do think that some regions get hit harder by crime than others, but the reasons for it are all basically the same or similiar.

Bradenton never had much of a job market except for Tropicana; hiring is frozen there. The drug trade in Florida has a tendency to take over certain geographical hot spots & Bradenton is one of them. Sarasota is the pill capital of the west coast. The police & sherriff's dept. know what time it is, they have all sorts of undercover operations going on...Bradenton is just showing the wear & tear of both counties.

[atroxanautin]

Not to say Sarasota doesn't have a crime problem. But, you will find the some of the higher crime areas in the city of Sarasota, and a lot more lower crime areas in unincorporated Sarasota (where most people live). It skews the statistics a lot. Most people really don't understand the difference between the City of Sarasota and the area Sarasota

The CDPs of Bee Ridge, Desoto Lakes, Fruitville, Gulf Gate Estates, Kensington Park, Lake Sarasota, North Sarasota, Ridgewood Heights, Siesta Key, South Gate Ridge, South Sarasota, Southgate, the Meadows and Vamo are all part of 'Sarasota' but are not in the city limits.

[tommy-105]

Originally Posted by Ladywithafan

Bradenton never had much of a job market except for Tropicana; hiring is frozen there. The drug trade in Florida has a tendency to take over certain geographical hot spots & Bradenton is one of them. Sarasota is the pill capital of the west coast. The police & sherriff's dept. know what time it is, they have all sorts of undercover operations going on...Bradenton is just showing the wear & tear of both counties.

This video was posted in the general Florida forum.I think it's a "must see" for any parent in Florida.
Hulu - Vanguard: The Oxycontin Express - Watch the full episode now.

I had a young coworker that was hooked on Oxycontin, other younger coworkers could tell that he was coming to work high.
(I couldn't tell at first) When my supervisor was made aware of the problem, I was given the job of babysitting the kid. (his dad worked for us). Eventually the kid fell down a short flight of stairs, and I was able to get out of the assignment.

Point being, from this and other experiences, I think there might be more tolerance towards drug use in Florida compared to other areas. The abuse also doesn't seem to have economic boundary's.

[auntieannie68]

Originally Posted by PITTSTON2SARASOTA

We live in Laurel Park...so you do understand my point. And I agree but not just the transient people...but the transient nature of residents flip flopping here....and in the "Park"..I think that absentee landlords are a MAJOR reason for the high crime rate. We have some rentals that seem to have "new" tenants on a weekly basis..lol.

same problems here in pittston only it's smaller and 100x uglier

[d4g4m]

Crime in the U.S. is measured with statistics. Every police agency sends a monthly report to the FBI that contains the 7 most violent people crimes and major thefts. The rankings are shown as a number per 100,000 people in the Metropolitan Statistical area. For this area it includes, Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice.
Forbes magazine 2009 lists the worst 15 crime areas in the U.S. [in order]
Detroit, Memphis, Miami, Las Vegas, Stockton, Orlando, Little Rock, Charleston, Nashville, Baltimore, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, West Palm Beach, Charlotte, Philadelphia.
The crime rates in the U.S. peaked in 1990-1993
Crimes per 100,00 people in Florida from FBI 2008 stats.
Tampa 703, Tallahassee 858, W. Palm Beach 726, Miami 988, Ft Lauderdale 802. Florida total 722, SARASOTA 661
Crime in Sarasota is not rampant or considered high.
If crime was so high in this area, Sheriff Deputies wouldn't have so much time on their hands harassing motorists for burned out license plate bulbs or pulling over every single male driver between 11 PM and 4 AM for a DUI check and 4 Deputies vehicles show up.

[Dreamy46]

You don't have any shortage of white-collar, mortgage fraud, real estate crime either:

Investigation: 'Flipping' in Florida | HeraldTribune.com | Sarasota Herald-Tribune