Not much mention of the crime? (Houston, Bellaire: low income, crime rates, how much)

[INeedATylenol]

Granted, I haven't read every single thread in its entirety, but I have skimmed over quite a bit and there doesn't seem to be much mention of the sky rocketing crime rates here. Why is that? Am I hyper-sensitive or are things really getting bad here lately?

[AK123]

I'm not aware of it suddenly going up lately. There was an uptick in 2005-2006 but that is over. From what I know, crime in Houston was much higher in the 1980's and has since gone down, in fact around 2000 or so Houston was on a list for the safest large cities.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by INeedATylenol

Granted, I haven't read every single thread in its entirety, but I have skimmed over quite a bit and there doesn't seem to be much mention of the sky rocketing crime rates here. Why is that? Am I hyper-sensitive or are things really getting bad here lately?

Where were you in the six months or so after August '05, and how much local TV news do you watch?

In any case, we have the *Castle Doctrine* here in Texas, so Houston can easily become the most dangerous city in the nation for criminals - if we can collectively grow a pair. That law, under certain guidelines, makes a potential crime victim judge, jury and executioner with regards to the perp.

[Mr. Football]

Agree with Jfre. Don't wait for the 'authorities', make yourself an 'authority'. Exercise your Constitutional Rights. Buy a gun, learn to use it properly.

[EasilyAmused]

For a very large city with a very small police force for its size, crime really isn't bad in a majority of the city. In fact, it's been going down. Now there're sections that nothing can help, but for the most part, if you keep your car off the street at night, you'll be ok.

[jfre81]

For what resources it has, HPD has been very aggressive in the crime hotspots in the last couple months. Their latest target is Fifth Ward.

[arbucle]

I remember in the 70s the 5th ward was where all the crime was in Houston and sharpston mall was the place for highschoolers to hang out.I guess they will keep working on the ward 40 years later.And who knows Sharpstown may turn around?

[jfre81]

The gentrification of the Near Northside inside the loop and between 45 and 59 will eventually turn into some degree of gentrification in *The Nickel.* That's my call anyway...there's nothing that can't happen in Houston.

[invictus77]

I disagree with many and think crime is terrible in Houston. Especially in North Houston. Places like West Houston near Wilcrest have turned into crime hot spots due to the influx of Katrina residents from a few years ago. There recently had been killings and alot of robberies in this area, that was once a very good neighborhood. Often at night, you will see upwards of 5-6 police cars right in this one area near the low income housing.

Memorial area, Bellaire, Mid Town are better. Although Mid Town has its fair share of robberies.

[EasilyAmused]

You must be talking about Wilcrest at Briar Forest and south,because none of this is going on at Wilcrest and Memorial. If it was, housing wouldn't have increased again this year by another 100k. It's extremely quiet in that area with the exception of car break-ins where they're working on the Wilcrest drainage and streets. The bayou seems to be a natural barrier to the badness.

As to the Briar Forest Katrinaville, they had two murders last year, which in the scope of Houston is NOT a hot area. And in the history of Houston, that area has never been a "charming" place to live. But that's a sleepy part of town when compared to Fondren SW. Sharpstown has more than that a month. But in all these places, the badies are picking each other off for the most part. It's criminal on criminal crime.