Visiting Detroit by Myself for Concert - Safety Concerns (Ann Arbor: rental, mover)

[Runnerxc8888]

Evening all. I am going to be in Detroit the start of next week for the AC/DC concert on Tuesday nite. I was going to be going with a friend but he backed out on me at the last minute. Since everything is non refundable, I decided to go by myself. I'm staying at the Crowne Plaza and have my own car to drive from the airport.

My question is how safe it is to walk around downtown, during the day, at nite, etc? I'm a mid 30s, reasonably well built guy. But after reading some comments about groups 'preying' upon people walking by themselves, homeless targeting people who are solo, etc, I'm apprehensive venturing anywhere out of the hotel, regardless of the time of day. It's going to be my first time in Detroit so I'd like to see things in the area like Greektown, some of the old buildings downtown, etc (and I have no plans on going into the burbs/outside of downtown). With that being said, I'm starting to get apprehensive about making the trip by myself after reading about how some people who venture out by themselves have faired.

As well, I wanted to stop and take a picture of the Michigan Central Station, but I've heard of several car jackings/break ins that I'm even hesitant to stop there in the daylight. Think it's ok to stop for a quick picture early in the afternoon (and even grab a bite out that way), or is that pushing my luck?

Thanks for the help.

[Serious Conversation]

I am not a Detroit resident, but have been downtown probably five times since last summer. I get up there about once every six weeks. At no time have I felt unsafe. I've felt more unsafe going into very rural communities in Appalachia, where I'm from, that I wasn't familiar with. I'd be downtown and be the only white man in sight and didn't feel any of the local blacks were even checking me out at all.

If you don't look like an easy target (drunk, out of it, etc) and are in an area where there are other people, your odds of running into trouble are small.

[linda814]

You should be fine...I just looked the concert up and found out its at Ford Field....The Tigers have a home game at Comerica that night and even though they're not doing FANTASTIC, there will be traffic and lots of people down there.I'd get there early.......sounds like a good time....report back...let us know how it was....

I grew up there.....now I'm in rural Tennessee and miss the downtown action!!! Good places to eat...Greektown or Mexicantown.....I'd do both!!! Have fun!!!!

[jaynarie]

You will be totally fine downtown. There are hundreds of security cameras that are monitored 24/7 as well as private security roaming about. Just like in any city, you need to be aware of your surroundings. I've been downtown nearly everyday this summer and I've never even witnessed something sketchy.

I haven't been near MCS in years, but the Corktown area is generally pretty safe as well. Not to the level downtown is, but it is one of Detroit's more stable neighborhoods. I doubt you'd have a problem.

[MS313]

Downtown Detroit is fine safety wise. I'll say do the same as you do in other big cities as far as knowing your surroundings, staying away from commotion, don't leave your valuables anywhere, ect. Homeless people don't usually harm you, some of them just become annoying and aggressive but you just have to put your foot down if it gets to that point. Also watch for pickpockets and some of the drivers.

[Runnerxc8888]

Thanks for the thoughts. Looking forward to getting out there tomorrow. I'll report back once I'm back from my visit.

[stasi_crystals]

I was in Detroit for a week not too long ago by myself from Phoenix and I actually found myself not too far away from home. I too had a rental from DTW and stayed in Southfield, which btw, had no idea if it was safe or not and walked to walgreens at night. I also went to Greektown and wished I had time to explore longer, and was actually surprised at how urban and poppin(compared to phoenix) was during mid-day.

[craig11152]

Last night up in Troy Mi I was at a friends house for a little party. Included at the event were 2 Detroit cops, and the head of security for Dan Gilberts empire. (Also a long retired Cincinnati cop) In the course of listening to them talking shop they said 95% of the bad stuff they respond to the media never talks about. People getting robbed or worse beaten up and robbed hardly even makes the news anymore. The consensus from them was never wander around alone after dark and never find yourself alone day or night in places that do not have a lot of other people. The cops more or less have downtown under control but if you walk two blocks the wrong way you can find yourself in trouble.
Again, that comes from 2 Detroit cops and the head of security for Dan Gilbert's empire. Do not under any circumstance find your self needing to put gas in your car in Detroit after dark. James Craig the chief of police in Detroit said he wouldn't get gas at night unless he absolutely had to.
If you stay in area's where lots of other people are you will be OK. There is safety in numbers.

[MS313]

Originally Posted by craig11152

Last night up in Troy Mi I was at a friends house for a little party. Included at the event were 2 Detroit cops, and the head of security for Dan Gilberts empire. (Also a long retired Cincinnati cop) In the course of listening to them talking shop they said 95% of the bad stuff they respond to the media never talks about. People getting robbed or worse beaten up and robbed hardly even makes the news anymore. The consensus from them was never wander around alone after dark and never find yourself alone day or night in places that do not have a lot of other people. The cops more or less have downtown under control but if you walk two blocks the wrong way you can find yourself in trouble.
Again, that comes from 2 Detroit cops and the head of security for Dan Gilbert's empire. Do not under any circumstance find your self needing to put gas in your car in Detroit after dark. James Craig the chief of police in Detroit said he wouldn't get gas at night unless he absolutely had to.
If you stay in area's where lots of other people are you will be OK. There is safety in numbers.

That's really not anything new, in Detroit or any other city. If every single violent crime hit the news in even a city like Kalamazoo, MI, it would take up most of the news segment. People getting killed, especially innocent people usually make the news but that's a different story. If you want to know about every single crime the way that cops do, look at sites online like crimemapping.com, click on Ann Arbor and switch the dates for this summer alone and you will be pretty paranoid because I guarantee you didn't hear about 95% of the stuff that goes on there also. There's a reason why cops are alot more paranoid than most, they see and hear more stuff on a daily basis than we see and hear in a month.

[craig11152]

Originally Posted by MS313

That's really not anything new, in Detroit or any other city. If every single violent crime hit the news in even a city like Kalamazoo, MI, it would take up most of the news segment. People getting killed, especially innocent people usually make the news but that's a different story. If you want to know about every single crime the way that cops do, look at sites online like crimemapping.com, click on Ann Arbor and switch the dates for this summer alone and you will be pretty paranoid because I guarantee you didn't hear about 95% of the stuff that goes on there also. There's a reason why cops are alot more paranoid than most, they see and hear more stuff on a daily basis than we see and hear in a month.

Doesn't change my point or advice. And for the record I have a daughter a son-in-law and another son-in-laws sister who are all cops in Washtenaw county.

Do you dispute my advice about what precautions to take during the OP's stay in Detroit? If so what advice would you give?

Personally When that concert gets out at Ford Field I probably wouldn't walk back to my hotel on the River Front alone after midnight unless it was on Woodward to Jefferson and there were lots of other people on the street the whole way. I would take the People Mover if its working.