UNM Campus Safety (apartment, violent crime, dorms)

[Jay100]

How safe is UNM and the immediate area around campus? On google maps it looks very nice but, I've also heard people say that it's a tough area?

[nazz]

It's a tough area.

[ABQConvict]

It's not that bad. There are a fair number of homeless in the area, but there are numerous businesses/restaurants/etc. students walk around the area at night. Just use common sense.

[Poncho_NM]

The University of New Mexico

Plenty of info to read:

Life at UNM
How to be Safe

https://geo.unm.edu/students/life_un...or%20dormitory.

and

https://campussafety.unm.edu/

[Jay100]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

It's not that bad. There are a fair number of homeless in the area, but there are numerous businesses/restaurants/etc. students walk around the area at night. Just use common sense.

According to the links that PonchoNM provided: "If you have a car, keep your car doors locked when you are both in and out of it. When walking to your car, especially at night, have your car door key in your hand ready to unlock the door.

Get in quickly and lock the door. Never park in dark or isolated areas."

So do people need to watch their backs/ be on their toes in the surrounding areas of campus?

[aries63]

Originally Posted by Jay100

How safe is UNM and the immediate area around campus?

I wouldn't call it "tough" at all. Where are you coming from and what are you used to? Small town America or inner city, or something else? I've known many international students at UNM, a couple of blind students, lots of others who did just fine. There are quite a lot of incidents of theft, but with tens of thousands of students, staff, faculty, and visitors coming and going every day some theft is going to happen. Don't leave articles of value unattended. The campus and most of its buildings are completely open to anyone off the street (pre-pandemic).

[ABQConvict]

Originally Posted by Jay100

According to the links that PonchoNM provided: "If you have a car, keep your car doors locked when you are both in and out of it.

This seems reasonable advice in any city in America.

Originally Posted by Jay100

When walking to your car, especially at night, have your car door key in your hand ready to unlock the door.

Get in quickly and lock the door. Never park in dark or isolated areas."

This seems paranoid.

Originally Posted by Jay100

So do people need to watch their backs/ be on their toes in the surrounding areas of campus?

Well, you don't have to walk around with your sweaty index finger trembling over the trigger on your pepper spray, but you should not walk around oblivious to your surroundings either. I once saw a guy cruising on a skateboard while looking at his phone crash into a girl with headphones on and she seemed to have really hurt her ankle.

OK, that mundane example downplays the worst things that could possibly happen, but it demonstrates what kind of accident is most likely to happen if you habitually walk around campus daydreaming.

You may find this article interesting: https://news.unm.edu/news/unm-releas...-safety-report

Keep in mind that most violent crimes such as assaults take place between students living in the dorms. There have been incidents of flashers in the past as well. The campus is open and people from the community can enter and wander around as they please, but it is not a place where criminals regularly lurk to prey on unsuspecting students.

There is a police force with a station on campus dedicated to protecting the campus of 40 officers and they potrol the campus 24/7, 365. The campus is very well lit at night and what few darker areas there are around buildings that are closed for the day so there is no reason to be forced to walk through those areas (and even the "dark" areas are not pitch black). The grounds are beautifully gardened but the trees and shrubs are not so thick as to conceal lurking evildoers.

Also, with thousands of students living on campus and in the surrounding neighborhoods, campus is rarely completely abandoned at night. There are people hanging out, riding bikes, playing street hockey in front of the library, jogging or playing frisbee and other sports at Johnson field, and taking walks well into the night. Only the fringes of campus, especially the west/northwest side are significantly quiet at night, and even that side borders on the sorority/fraternity neighborhood.

[elkotronics]

I wouldn't call it "tough" at all. Where are you coming from and what are you used to? Small town America or inner city, or something else? I've known many international students at UNM, a couple of blind students, lots of others who did just fine. There are quite a lot of incidents of theft, but with tens of thousands of students, staff, faculty, and visitors coming and going every day some theft is going to happen. Don't leave articles of value unattended. The campus and most of its buildings are completely open to anyone off the street (pre-pandemic).

Here's a tip. When I was 19 I went to Graphic Arts/Printing Tech. school in downtown Seattle. I kept my wallet in my back pocket. One day my wallet must've fallen out of my back pocket. I noticed it missing later that day - it must've happened when I went across 2nd Avenue ta go to this small market there.

Any way, I was SOL after that - I had to get a new copy of my SS card, I lost $10.00 or $15.00 dollars is all, but it hurt me then, because I was broke. I didn't have rich parents that would fund my 4-year college. I paid for everything myself.

My tip is this: keep your wallet in your front pocket. I keep it in my right leg front pocket, and I keep my pocket change in the left leg front pocket of my pants. It has saved me so much possible heartache and heartbreak later on in life as I've grown older.

Ta lose a wallet is a really, really distressing thing. Oh, Mrs. elkotronics informs me that loss "experts" advise everyone to not keep their SS card anywhere on their person. I still keep mine in my wallet, but really, no one really asks you for your SS card (and would you actually get it out of your wallet if they did, and show it to them, with all of the morons out there stealing your personal business?), and, most everyone already has memorized their SS #, so why carry your SS card around with you? If some moron does get ahold of your SS card, you might just be screwed. Do not let that happen!

Carry your wallet in your front pocket only. And strongly consider not carrying your SS card on your person. I am going to put that baby in our strong box instead of carrying it around. Be careful. There's morons everywhere who could care less what kind of trouble you'll be having after they steal your person ID information. That includes financial information.

Be careful.

[Jay100]

Originally Posted by elkotronics

I wouldn't call it "tough" at all. Where are you coming from and what are you used to? Small town America or inner city, or something else? I've known many international students at UNM, a couple of blind students, lots of others who did just fine. There are quite a lot of incidents of theft, but with tens of thousands of students, staff, faculty, and visitors coming and going every day some theft is going to happen. Don't leave articles of value unattended. The campus and most of its buildings are completely open to anyone off the street (pre-pandemic).

Here's a tip. When I was 19 I went to Graphic Arts/Printing Tech. school in downtown Seattle. I kept my wallet in my back pocket. One day my wallet must've fallen out of my back pocket. I noticed it missing later that day - it must've happened when I went across 2nd Avenue ta go to this small market there.

Any way, I was SOL after that - I had to get a new copy of my SS card, I lost $10.00 or $15.00 dollars is all, but it hurt me then, because I was broke. I didn't have rich parents that would fund my 4-year college. I paid for everything myself.

My tip is this: keep your wallet in your front pocket. I keep it in my right leg front pocket, and I keep my pocket change in the left leg front pocket of my pants. It has saved me so much possible heartache and heartbreak later on in life as I've grown older.

Ta lose a wallet is a really, really distressing thing. Oh, Mrs. elkotronics informs me that loss "experts" advise everyone to not keep their SS card anywhere on their person. I still keep mine in my wallet, but really, no one really asks you for your SS card (and would you actually get it out of your wallet if they did, and show it to them, with all of the morons out there stealing your personal business?), and, most everyone already has memorized their SS #, so why carry your SS card around with you? If some moron does get ahold of your SS card, you might just be screwed. Do not let that happen!

Carry your wallet in your front pocket only. And strongly consider not carrying your SS card on your person. I am going to put that baby in our strong box instead of carrying it around. Be careful. There's morons everywhere who could care less what kind of trouble you'll be having after they steal your person ID information. That includes financial information.

Be careful.

I might just have to go visit in person and see what the aura around campus is like.

[aries63]

Originally Posted by Jay100

I might just have to go visit in person and see what the aura around campus is like.

That's always a good idea if you're considering enrolling somewhere, or applying for a job. While you're here, check out some of the many off-campus attractions. Recreational opportunities abound in the surrounding area. There's a lot of exploring to do.