How Bad Is the Gang Activity (Portland, Clackamas: train, villa, recruit)

[Yankeemama]

Originally Posted by ChristinePDX

My sister and I were having an interesting conversation about this the other day. She and I both grew up in Portland, and yet we have wildly different comfort zones about safety. She's happy to hitchhike across town, couch surf with strangers, leave doors unlocked, and is a very trusting person. She has had surprisingly few bad encounters, despite all of the risks she takes trusting strangers in this town.

I, however, would never leave a door unlocked in my house, even during the afternoon when I am home. My sister and I both had a similar upbringings, so why the difference? Perhaps it's because I came of age in the early 1990s in Portland when crime was a lot higher, and I remember a lot of really troubled times from that period. The most horrifying examples: One of my classmates and her boyfriend were murdered right after graduation. Our neighbors down the street were killed when a break-in in their home went terribly wrong. Luckily, their kids were not home at the time. I walked into OUR house being robbed after school, not once, but TWICE. I was held up at gun point and tied in a bathroom for two hours at my first real job when I was 17.

All of that is CRAZY, right? These and other bad experiences have made me a less-than-trusting person. I perceive Portland as an unsafe place, and even though I know that much of it is SO much safer than my neighborhood was growing up, there is no way I will leave that deadbolt unturned.

Portland seems pretty safe now. But, believe me, it's not a utopia.

I hear you, Christine, and I am sorry about your terrible experiences. I have also been a victim of crime and it stays with you. I try to keep an eye out for strange stuff going on around me especially since there seems to be a high number of tweakers in Portland. I am glad that I live in the city with all the good that city life brings but sometimes I think living in very safe parts of Beaverton would be a nice alternative, as well. I never say never... but for now I am staying in the heart of NE. I sometimes see some very bad off individuals at the Freddy's on 102nd when I go East but where I live... things are a lot more positive except for car break ins and people going through recycling bins.

[Yankeemama]

Originally Posted by urbanlife78

When I lived near downtown I use to no always lock my front door when I was running down the street for a bite to eat, but my front door entrance was pretty hidden and you had to know the house to know where my door was.

I love the quality of safe neighborhoods in Portland, the biggest issue you have to really worry about is usually car break ins.

I agree with the car break ins. I have an alarm system on my house and lots of sensor lights on our property. We try to dissuade thieves as much as possible but living in the city has it's risks. Our car has been broken in once and thankfully there wasn't anything very expensive inside but since then, I don't leave anything of value in my car.

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by Yankeemama

I agree with the car break ins. I have an alarm system on my house and lots of sensor lights on our property. We try to dissuade thieves as much as possible but living in the city has it's risks. Our car has been broken in once and thankfully there wasn't anything very expensive inside but since then, I don't leave anything of value in my car.

I had my car broken into once because I had forgotten I left a backpack full of dirty work clothes on my back seat. It was more annoying to have to deal with than anything. After that I always check my car to make sure nothing valuable was visable.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Gangs in Portland appear to be concerned with running well organized illegal businesses. They aren't so much into the drive-by shooting territorial disputes.

The crime isn't so much gang related as it is meth related. Meth heads need money to buy drugs and their inhibitions and common sense are burned out of them by the drugs they ingest. The need for money makes them thieves and the loss of common sense sometimes makes them dangerous.

Although, the gangs are running the well organized meth pipeline and distribution. So they are causing local crime, but it is more indirectly.

[Yankeemama]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

Gangs in Portland appear to be concerned with running well organized illegal businesses. They aren't so much into the drive-by shooting territorial disputes.

The crime isn't so much gang related as it is meth related. Meth heads need money to buy drugs and their inhibitions and common sense are burned out of them by the drugs they ingest. The need for money makes them thieves and the loss of common sense sometimes makes them dangerous.

Although, the gangs are running the well organized meth pipeline and distribution. So they are causing local crime, but it is more indirectly.

Interesting info which makes sense. There seem to be a lot of meth heads in Portland which makes me use my caution in certain situations but after living in NYC for ten years I feel pretty lucky to live in Portland with a relatively low violent crime rate. I still use common sense and keep my third eye open.

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by urbanlife78

I had my car broken into once because I had forgotten I left a backpack full of dirty work clothes on my back seat. It was more annoying to have to deal with than anything. After that I always check my car to make sure nothing valuable was visable.

I've had a couple bags stolen(or other stuff) as have my former roommates over the years, and yeah, it'll happen pretty often if you leave stuff in your car overnight--in several different areas of town. They won't steal CDs at this point, because I've got those sitting around my car and visible, but any sort of bag or sunglasses or anything that looks like it might be worth something.

Suprisingly the one neighborhood I never got anything stolen from with N Portland right off Interstate, the good street lighting and frequent cops up and down the street must've scared away potential theives, because I had neighbors and a rommate who left a ton of crap in the back of their cars/trucks--and we had some really sketchy neighbors also.

For the most part though just don't forget to leave anything in your car, ever...

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by Yankeemama

Interesting info which makes sense. There seem to be a lot of meth heads in Portland which makes me use my caution in certain situations but after living in NYC for ten years I feel pretty lucky to live in Portland with a relatively low violent crime rate. I still use common sense and keep my third eye open.

And the meth in Portland is no where near as bad as it was in Spokane during the height of the drug there. Spokane had to create a task force just to tackle their problem which lead to a number of home and business raids.

[Yankeemama]

Originally Posted by urbanlife78

And the meth in Portland is no where near as bad as it was in Spokane during the height of the drug there. Spokane had to create a task force just to tackle their problem which lead to a number of home and business raids.

Oh, so THAT is why Spokane gets a certain reputation in the PNW. Natives make comments and innuendos about certain places in the PNW and they fly over my head as I know very little about most cities up here. I wonder what the effect of heroin addiction is going to have on communities where meth has had a serious impact.

[Therightway]

In West Linn, Oregon, born and raised
On the mean streets Chael spent most of his days

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by Therightway

In West Linn, Oregon, born and raised
On the mean streets Chael spent most of his days

And now I have the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song stuck in my head....thanks for that.