Wow Really? (Crime stats are making me not want to move to SA) (San Antonio: to live in, costs)

[CLR210]

Originally Posted by rare_commodity

Car Vandelism....hmm that's why I wanted a garage but didn't find much luck. Most of the apartments were detached garages.

Not to highjack the thread but can you hint at the "bad parts of town"? Another poster said " south (if you go far enough, south isnt bad in the hill country), east and west sides"

I'm no expert on this at all because I rarely leave my part of town because there is no need to. All of the shopping and entertainment I need is within a few miles of my home (I'm in the NW side of town). I do however stay away from the southside after dark, parts of the westside and eastside as well. I really do not think any side of SA is completely bad because there are certainly pockets of great areas even within those that are considered "bad". I visited a friend a few years ago who lives on the southside and their neighborhood was lovely with well kept lawns and maintained homes. They told me they've never had any problems but attributed that to a tightly knit community where everyone takes pride in their neighborhood and watches out for each other. You also have to factor in what the definition of "bad" is because it's different dependent upon who you talk to. For me, if I hear gunshots at night (or day for that matter) or my neighborhood is routinely "tagged", vandalized, etc. I'd have an issue with that and move. Does crime never occur in my neighborhood, sure it does, but it is extremely rare and petty and I live in what many would consider an extremely nice and safe neighborhood.

[SnappyBob]

Originally Posted by CRenaud

I'm no expert on this at all because I rarely leave my part of town because there is no need to. All of the shopping and entertainment I need is within a few miles of my home (I'm in the NW side of town). I do however stay away from the southside after dark, parts of the westside and eastside as well. I really do not think any side of SA is completely bad because there are certainly pockets of great areas even within those that are considered "bad". I visited a friend a few years ago who lives on the southside and their neighborhood was lovely with well kept lawns and maintained homes. They told me they've never had any problems but attributed that to a tightly knit community where everyone takes pride in their neighborhood and watches out for each other. You also have to factor in what the definition of "bad" is because it's different dependent upon who you talk to. For me, if I hear gunshots at night (or day for that matter) or my neighborhood is routinely "tagged", vandalized, etc. I'd have an issue with that and move. Does crime never occur in my neighborhood, sure it does, but it is extremely rare and petty and I live in what many would consider an extremely nice and safe neighborhood.

That is so true. I live near the intersection of I37 and Military Drive in a very nice neighborhood. According to a previous post, this is an area you should avoid because it's considered an undesirable area. Mostly considered undisirable by people who are totally unfamilair with it. What people always fail to mention when they sing the praises of their wonderful part of town is that even the "good / preferable" parts of town have their pockets of bad areas. So, while no area of town may be completely bad it is also true that no area is completely good either. I have worked on the northwest side of town for almost 40 years and I can tell you, there are a great many parts of it that are undesirable if not dangerous.

[CLR210]

Originally Posted by SnappyBob

That is so true. I live near the intersection of I37 and Military Drive in a very nice neighborhood. According to a previous post, this is an area you should avoid because it's considered an undesirable area. Mostly considered undisirable by people who are totally unfamilair with it. What people always fail to mention when they sing the praises of their wonderful part of town is that even the "good / preferable" parts of town have their pockets of bad areas. So, while no area of town may be completely bad it is also true that no area is completely good either. I have worked on the northwest side of town for almost 40 years and I can tell you, there are a great many parts of it that are undesirable if not dangerous.

You are absolutely correct SnappyBob. Even in my area, that is considered good and safe, there are pockets within a few miles of my neighborhood where I wouldn't venture out for an evening stroll.

[LindaGrace]

Yeah, I've lived here 15 years, 12 of them in the medical center area and have never been the victim of any kind of crime, property or otherwise. My husband did get his car broken into during church at University United Methodist but that's it (and that isn't the medical center anyway).

Choose your neighborhood wisely and take the same precautions you would in any large city and you'll be fine.

[GoSpuRs]

Near eastside along new braunfels ave south of 35 and MLK to Jstreet park is probably the heart of criminal activity in SA, although police presence is very high there..Alot of crime has moved NE toward rittiman/walzem/the glen ect..Near west in general is poor but has good hardworking people..Further west toward 410 is worse, especially hamilton st and marbach areas, indian creek has can be rough too..South and West sides have some drug and some gang problems in pocketed areas..North side can be bad in pockets also but overall san antonio doesnt compare to America's most violent cities (i.e new orleans, baltimore, detroit, st louis) In SA if your confident and keep to yourself the chances are youll never be a victim of violent crime.

[Paka]

NEVER been a victim of any crime here in SA....but if you are that concerned maybe you should stay where you feel safe....works for all of us.:shocked

We are the 7th largest city in the nation and I feel VERY safe and comfortable each and every day...have visited YOUR neck of the woods more than once...our kids live in Laurel Md so we fly into BWI....wish I could say I felt as safe when flying into BWI.

[DexterCat]

Originally Posted by LindaGrace

Yeah, I've lived here 15 years, 12 of them in the medical center area and have never been the victim of any kind of crime, property or otherwise. My husband did get his car broken into during church at University United Methodist but that's it (and that isn't the medical center anyway).

Choose your neighborhood wisely and take the same precautions you would in any large city and you'll be fine.

maybe you have crappy or undesirable stuff to loot? not personally attacking you, but thieves tend to go for the nice stuff, like my 1994 stock acura integra on mesh rims that they broke into 4 farking times.. in the medical center... and it was behind a building, not visible from the street!!!

or.. how about the korean POS car we owned that was stolen from the medical center?? that car wasnt even running!

how about the bone stock 1995 honda civic on steelies that thieves tried to steal from us... IN THE MEDICAL CENTER!

there is a reason i avoid the medical center much like i avoid bandera county, balcones heights, castle hills, etc etc.

nothing but THIEVES there now.


/all of these break-ins were in different locations, never once the same. medical center has gone to crap!

[LindaGrace]

Your personal experience differs from mine. And really, it doesn't sound like you had "quality" stuff broken into. Not personally attacking either but it sounds like your cars were old and "crappy" to use your words - Korean POS? Stock Honda that wasn't running? Doesn't sound like quality to me.

My husband and I both drive vehicles less than two years old and nope,no break ins. We DO take precautions to not attract thieves - we don't leave valuables in our vehicles, both our vehicles fit in our garage, etc.

So. Not a victim here, despite living for years in a neighborhood you claim is crime-ridden and awful. Different experiences.

[Azure110]

I also live in the medical center and never had my car broken into. The only time I had my car broken into is when I lived for a short period of time nearby UTSA that was considered a "safe neighborhood".

I always park my car in the garage at night also.

[Paka]

Never been broken into but then again we do a few things that will keep you safe ANYWHERE:

do not leave stuff out in site to "entice" those searching for something to take
lock our doors and ensure there is NOTHING more than a box of tissues visible
don't do anything to draw special attention to our cars, no special rims, gadgets or sound systems
have an ALARM system on our cars


Deterrents and PRUDENT advice. If you have a specially equipped "ricer" you are just asking for trouble from like minded folks.