[southigo45]

I'm reading so much about how bad crime is in Hot Springs. But also that Hot Springs Village is different. How far apart are they? Is there crime in the Village? How safe are you there? Is it really a walled, gated community? Is HS someplace where I would feel safe shopping or would I want to go to another town? Does the Village have shopping? HSV and the area was looking so inviting until I started reading about the crime. Low crime and my safety are what will determine where, what town or state I move to.

[JeffAtkins]

HSV is about 15 miles NE of downtown Hot Springs. Most of the HS commerical area is further south. It is currently about 30 minute drive. A bypass extension is being planned that will reduce the travel time. I don't have any concerns about safety in the HS commercial areas.

HSV doesn't have "shopping", but it does have several full sized grocery stores, Wal-mart, hardware stores, auto supply, Sears home center, etc.

HSV has very little crime. It is not "walled", there is no fence around it. There are physical gates at the entrances, except for the main gate on Hwy 7 that is staffed 24x365.

The HSV POA keeps crime statistics that are public information, I can get that for you if you are interested.

[ETex2]

Jeff - I know that I'd be interested in this information from the HSV POA. Thanks in advance!

[Old Fossil]

Jeff said it right.

[latunafish]

i have been visiting the hot springs area for decades and own a weekend place there, i have never had an issue with crime of any type. we go to kroger and walmart after dinner on the weekends and have never had a problem. we have parked downtown, to go eat on many occasions and never had anything stolen or broken into. i don't even know of any of my neighbors that have had any crime issue, ever.

[southigo45]

Thanks everyone for this info. It makes me feel better. Yes, Jeff, I would like that info you have. I was under the impression Hot Spring Village was a 55+ community. Am I wrong? I'm kind of zeroing in on this type of community thinking it might be safer since you know when your neighbor moves or dies, the same age group will move in, not a drug dealer. If a nosy busy body is all I have to deal with, I can handle that. The neighborhood where I am now has changed for the worst in the last few years and this next move will definitely be my last so want to make sure safety is first. I never thought I would be looking for "old folks" communities but here I am doing exactly that. Years ago we went to the Rogers/fayetteville area and had a piece of land on Beaver lake or Dam. I just loved it there but it's been so long, I know I would never recognize it anymore. I've been looking in Arkansas, Alabama, Florida (but not my first choice at all) and Tennessee, where I lived for 6 years and absolutely loved it. So I have a lot of choices just have to find the right place for me.

[Old Fossil]

This is just a tad off topic, but yesterday I was in my car waiting for Wife, and started running the radio stations just to see what I could find. I found one with music I liked and listened to it for a while and was surprised that when Station ID was announced it was in HSV. It was as strong and clear as any station here in Little Rock.

[jimnelson1]

How on earth do people get these ideas about what Hot Springs Village is like?

If there is a safer, more crime free place in America I don't know about it.

[JeffAtkins]

Originally Posted by southigo45

Thanks everyone for this info. It makes me feel better. Yes, Jeff, I would like that info you have. I was under the impression Hot Spring Village was a 55+ community. Am I wrong?

It will be early next week before I can post the stats.

There are no age restrictions, but most residents are retired. I moved here when I was 38. There are hundreds of school-aged children here, but nothing like the mix you'd see in most areas.

[southigo45]

Originally Posted by jimnelson1

How on earth do people get these ideas about what Hot Springs Village is like?

If there is a safer, more crime free place in America I don't know about it.

This is what I want to hear when I'm looking for another place to move. especially when I'm not familiar with the area. Real Estate agents can't tell you about an area if it isn't safe and even if they could, they wouldn't. I'm really cautious and over stressing on where I move this time. I've been in my house 13 years and it was a nice middle class working man's neighborhood when I bought here. The last few years it's changed drastically to the point I'm afraid to put my dog out at night and very cautious during the day. New Year's day - just 4 weeks ago- there was a car jacking on my corner. I woke up to gun shots at 7am. Police were running all over the neighborhood looking for him with their rifles out. There was gunfire exchange and they killed him 1 block from my house. This is a 360 degree turn from when I moved in. I'm totally paranoid about where I move to the next time.