Small Businesses Dealing with Crime

[capcat]

Originally Posted by AusParent

What's the incentive to deal with so much crime?

The incentive is the overall profitability of the business. Crime happens, no matter where you are located.

[caribbeanppl]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

Austin does have an unusually high property crime rate. Most of which are thefts, crimes of opportunity. For a small business that probably means shop lifting. Much of which can be deterred by the layout of your store, making sure the owner and clerks have good visual access to what the shoppers are doing. Narrow aisles packed full of stuff on tall shelves, and inattentive clerks is an invitation to shop lifters.

I find it hard to believe that 2,728 thefts in 78704 would be enough to make many businesses move out of town. That is about 7.5 a day and many of those are probably thefts from cars and apartment complexes. You can look up the actual crime statistics at the City GIS web page for the last year to see where and what type of crimes occurred in that zip code. Most crimes in any zip code occur mostly around stores, restaurants and apartment complexes.

Hi! have nothing to add on this thread as I'm new to Austin and don't have a business either, but got very concerned about "most crimes occur mostly arount apartment complexes". My zipcode is 78759. Does that statement applies to this one as well? I happen to live in an apartment complex.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by austin-saca

@Dr. Mom - APD is working to get resources for more patrols.

@Capt - We hope that you never experience a theft - or a burglary.

I have experienced all of these things more then once, but not since I increased my security.

Why are you making this personal? Crime is a fact of life, like sickness, and death, deal with it.

You can do more to improve your own security then APD ever will be able to afford to do. APD is spread so thin chances are the only time you will see them is when you are reporting a crime.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by AusParent

What's the incentive to deal with so much crime?

"So much" crime? Buglaries are only average in Austin.

There is no incentive, it is a fact of life, you deal with it or you allow yourself to be a victim. Your choice.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by caribbeanppl

Hi! have nothing to add on this thread as I'm new to Austin and don't have a business either, but got very concerned about "most crimes occur mostly arount apartment complexes". My zipcode is 78759. Does that statement applies to this one as well? I happen to live in an apartment complex.

Actually what I wrote was "Most crimes in any zip code occur mostly around stores, restaurants and apartment complexes.'.

Yes, this is generally true of all areas where you have a concentration of people living and cars parked outdoors where no one can really keep an eye on them. If you look closely at where crimes are occurring in your neighborhood, you will find this true. There may be some apartment complexes that have tightly controlled gates and security, but most do not.

As you can look here to see what the crime statistics are for 78759 in 2009. It is not the highest and is probably as high as it is because of all the shopping centers and stores in the area.

You can look here to see the detailed demographics for that zip code: //www.city-data.com/zips/78759.html

In general, it is one of the better neighborhoods, poverty levels are very low, property values are high, most of the residents are college educated, cost of living is well below average for Texas, median household incomes are almost 25% higher then the average for Texas, over half of the residents have lived there since 1998 or longer, so it is stable. It is a good neighborhood.

[caribbeanppl]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

Actually what I wrote was "Most crimes in any zip code occur mostly around stores, restaurants and apartment complexes.'.

Yes, this is generally true of all areas where you have a concentration of people living and cars parked outdoors where no one can really keep an eye on them. If you look closely at where crimes are occurring in your neighborhood, you will find this true. There may be some apartment complexes that have tightly controlled gates and security, but most do not.

As you can look here to see what the crime statistics are for 78759 in 2009. It is not the highest and is probably as high as it is because of all the shopping centers and stores in the area.

You can look here to see the detailed demographics for that zip code: //www.city-data.com/zips/78759.html

In general, it is one of the better neighborhoods, poverty levels are very low, property values are high, most of the residents are college educated, cost of living is well below average for Texas, median household incomes are almost 25% higher then the average for Texas, over half of the residents have lived there since 1998 or longer, so it is stable. It is a good neighborhood.

Oh thank you, you always answer with accurate information. I took a look at the link and now I have a better idea. Have a good one!

[AusParent]

Is moving elsewhere a possibility?