<p>America’s Top College Neighborhoods for Property Crime. “No. 1: U.C. Santa Barbara, Isla Vista, Calif., (Ocean Rd. / El Colegio Rd.), 1,019 property crimes per 1,000 residents.” That statistic appears to imply an average of more than one property crime per resident. Anyone here familiar with this neighborhood?</p>
<p>As far as I know, Isla Vista is a reasonably upscale area. I don’t know about property crime, but I doubt there is a lot of vilolent crime there (although I believe that’s where the infamous Jesse James Hollywood brought his victim).</p>
<p>I don’t know how big an area they’re considering a “neighborhood.” I know both of the intersections listed for Austin, TX – they’re only 5 blocks apart. On the west side of Lamar is a Frisbee golf and volleyball park, and there is no housing at all over there. On one corner of MLK and Lamar are a few small shops, which leaves only 1/4 of the intersection to house an apartment building. 24th and Lamar is almost the same situation, except that there are tennis courts on one corner and apartments on the other. So 3/4 of both of these intersections have no housing at all, and there are only commercial businesses separating them. These so-called “neighborhoods” seem to be just a couple of individual apartment complexes.</p>
<p>Kind of an odd and unexpected assortment of schools on the “worst” list - one wonders if there are major differences in the way statistics are recorded.</p>
<p>^ I suspect that is the secret to getting on the list – being in the middle of a busy area that has very few actual residents. The measurement is property crimes per 1,000 residents, and the more people there are in the neighborhood every day, with fewer “residents”, the higher the ratio is going to be.</p>
<p>Although I am pi–ed off at UCSB for not accepting me, a local, I must say that it is not a crime ridden place. Actually, crime ridden yes, dangerous, no. The reason why so much crime is reported (mainly petty theft), it’s because the I.V. (Isla Vista) Police is on a rampage to bust UCSB kids since they promote a lot of fines and pay fines to the city. And like many other BIG PARTY campuses, I am sure there is a lot of un-wanted sexual activities that takes place. </p>
<p>Now, if only these cops can come to downtown SB to bust the gang bangers, then we would all be much safer…</p>
<p>golly, you know, I really dislike articles like this, I think it just fuels unnecessary fear in an already fearful world. It doesn’t matter where you live, there is crime but I don’t think it should paralyze us in our tracks and sometimes these ‘crime stories’ about colleges just creates a sense of panic amongst parents when there shouldn’t be. For example, I am a graduate of the University of Chicago and a frequent comment you hear is how could you possibly have survived in such a ‘crime ridden’ ‘dangerous’ area of the south side of Chicago. When the reality is if you use common sense, like you would anywhere, there is no cause for alarm. (In fact, it wasn’t until we moved to Cornhusker country of Omaha Nebraska did my husband get mugged and robbed in our apartment parking lot…very scary!) I really wish articles like this didn’t get published as it makes folks scared when there is no reason to be frightened.</p>
<p>This could include a lot of shoplifting, since the stats include larceny over $50. If these neighborhoods are retail areas without a lot of housing, that could really skew the results.</p>
<p>Santa Barbara- is certainly a real crime hot bed. :rolleyes:
However when I stayed out all night a year or so ago, attending a concert and then a " bar" fot the after party recently, just off the main street ( and SB only has * one* main street, it runs from the airport to the ocean), I felt perfectly safe walking back to my hotel by myself & I wasn’t bothered at all.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t want to * live * there, but not because of crime.</p>
<p>Taking home two different size shoes in one box - purposely mixing up the pair to match your own feet – that’s the crime with infinite potential.</p>
<p>Visited UPenn just a few weeks back–and 38th/Walnut is right at the edge of campus, where the bookstore etc is…and then the Sheraton etc. It is busy all of the time. Ate at White Dog which is within a block or so…
So I am guessing this is what? thefts from parked cars or at the shops/stores nearby?
There is a metro stop right there</p>
<p>It just doesn’t seem that “dangerous” …it wasn’t isolated…</p>