Info on Lancaster (City) (Allentown, Reading: homes, employment, camp)

[Magritte25]

Driving through Lancaster today, my husband and I were suitably impressed with the old homes, the beautiful city scenes, etc.

However, when we stopped at Mussen Park to let our kids play someone was nosing around our car, peeking in the windows. My husband walked towards the car and the guy ran away.

We are thoroughly confused about Lancaster's identity. It appears to be a very well kept, nice city with professionals of all ages living and working in the area. But then someone seemed to be trying to break into our car!

So what say you Harrisburg area residents?

[Paav8tor]

I'm a York area resident.... perhaps you saw the three shootings on the news?! Lancaster, Harrisburg and York all have crime.....

Glad PA issues concealed carry permits to law abiding citizens!

[DowntownHarrisburg]

Originally Posted by Magritte25

We are thoroughly confused about Lancaster's identity. It appears to be a very well kept, nice city with professionals of all ages living and working in the area. But then someone seemed to be trying to break into our car!

I don't mean to be rude or sarcastic, so please don't take my post that way. But just because a city has professionals or "looks nice" or "has an art scene" doesn't make it immune from crime. There are brothels in Etters, drug dealers in Camp Hill, and meth addicts in every picturesque small town across the country. Every single city on the planet has all of the above and worse. A well-maintained park doesn't offset the necessity of situational awareness and common sense.

I'm not saying Lancaster is a bad city. In fact, I'm saying the opposite -- these things will happen in any given city. Just don't let the nice parks lull you into thinking it's okay to leave your iPod in plain view on the front seat. Those days are long, long gone.

[JohnZ963]

Lancaster (city) has a large lower-income hispanic/latino population, much like Reading, Allentown, etc. Read into that however you want to.

[Magritte25]

Originally Posted by floor9

I don't mean to be rude or sarcastic, so please don't take my post that way. But just because a city has professionals or "looks nice" or "has an art scene" doesn't make it immune from crime. There are brothels in Etters, drug dealers in Camp Hill, and meth addicts in every picturesque small town across the country. Every single city on the planet has all of the above and worse. A well-maintained park doesn't offset the necessity of situational awareness and common sense.

I'm not saying Lancaster is a bad city. In fact, I'm saying the opposite -- these things will happen in any given city. Just don't let the nice parks lull you into thinking it's okay to leave your iPod in plain view on the front seat. Those days are long, long gone.

We hardly left an expensive piece of electronics in plain view.

I didn't say a word about the park's condition.

[lialleycat]

Friends of mine who live in Lancaster advised me to look in the north eastern side of town. Some of the housing in the south eastern side I was advised not to bother going to see.

[Magritte25]

Thanks lialleycat! What is the employment environment like in the area? My husband has an accounting degree.

[DowntownHarrisburg]

Originally Posted by Magritte25

We hardly left an expensive piece of electronics in plain view. I didn't say a word about the park's condition.

If you had, he probably wouldn't have stopped at looking in your car; he probably would have smashed, grabbed, and run.

You're surprised that a "nice city with professionals" can have a criminal element. If you're expecting a correlation between "nice appearance" and "low risk of crime", you might need a reality check -- a grounding, if you will -- before moving to any city or suburb. This sort of thing does happen.

[lialleycat]

I don't know about the job environment, looking from out of state hasn't produced even a nibble in this economy. However, for locals it may be different. Accounting may also be different as well since it's one of the jobs doing a bit better in this economy.

[Magritte25]

Originally Posted by floor9

If you had, he probably wouldn't have stopped at looking in your car; he probably would have smashed, grabbed, and run.

You're surprised that a "nice city with professionals" can have a criminal element. If you're expecting a correlation between "nice appearance" and "low risk of crime", you might need a reality check -- a grounding, if you will -- before moving to any city or suburb. This sort of thing does happen.

I don't know what's with the attitude from you but you can check it, ok? I asked an innocuous question in what I perceived to be a vast disparity between the upkeep and general appearance of a city and the locals of said city.

If you have nothing of value to add to the conversation, why are you posting? Bored?