<p>Hey, so I have a friend who lives in the U of C area near 53rd St. who’s letting me stay with him for part of winter break. I really would like to experience this part of the city, but before I agree, how safe is this area? He told me his apartment building has been broken into once this year, forcing the landlord to install new locks several on all the units. He tells me this an isolated incident, but I can’t help feeling a bit apprehensive (and I grew up in Chicago). I don’t wanna be thinking about the possibility of someone breaking in when I’m trying to sleep! Also, what’s the latest I could walk around and still feel safe (i.e. when getting off the #6 bus from Downtown)? Thank you.</p>
<p>A lot of people live around 53rd, and it’s a major stop on the 6 bus, so the likelihood that somebody else gets off at the 53rd stop with you is highly likely.</p>
<p>Ask your friend how he feels in the area and use your common sense. Get the UCPD and SafeRide phone number just in case you want them.</p>
<p>53rd street is a sort of shopping/residential area that is extremely safe. It’s when you get south of the Midway, around 61st street (with definite exceptions, like UChicago building areas- Burton-Judson and the New Dorm are good examples of areas south of the Midway that are very safe) that sketchy stuff starts to happen.
Basically, you want to still be cautious while walking around by yourself (as you would in pretty much any major city), so don’t be walking around drunk counting the money in your wallet at 2 am. I personally prefer to walk with a friend after nighttime, but I’m also tiny and female and highly unable to defend myself against the unsavory. Don’t worry, though- you are very unlikely to run in to problems in the 53rd street area.</p>
<p>as gracello said, use common sense… chicago’s a city and it’s never safe to be stupid at night. in terms of breaking in at night, it’s generally a lot less common to have break-ins at night than during the day, since at night, people are home! dont stress out too much, but be actively smart</p>
<p>I disagree with Grace that sketchy begins at 61st - maybe it’s just because I live in BJ and everyone feels safest near their home, but I think the south side of campus is every bit as safe as the north end. </p>
<p>With that said, I would advise using caution whenever walking alone after dark, anywhere in the city - not just Hyde Park. 53rd street is just as safe as everywhere else in our neighborhood, and it’s pretty well trafficked until about 9 or 9:30 on a weeknight, probably 11:00 on friday and saturday nights, but you may not want to walk long distances alone after dark. It’s up to you. Your friend is a better gauge of 53rd street than I am.</p>
<p>I live on 53rd, and my house has been broken into. I don’t think it’s as safe as everyone claims it is. I make sure to be home before 9 every night I sleep at this residence.</p>
<p>I live in what might be considered a somewhat upscale neighborhood in a part of the country not usually associated with high crime rates, and MY home was broken into. I just wish I would have put the alarm system on… One has to be alert wherever one is.</p>
<p>Another thing to keep in mind is that safety, perceived and actual, varies as one moves west from the lake. The crime rate tends to spike a bit especially when one crosses Woodlawn, although not hugely - bikes tend to disappear everywhere in Hyde Park, and random street crime takes place throughout.</p>
<p>Hyde Park, Kenwood and Woodlawn (the three “official” Chicago neighborhoods with a U. Chicago presence…) are all urban neighborhoods with their share of random crimes. Saying that, serious felonies (assaults, rapes, murders, armed robberies etc.) are mercifully rare, but do occur. And show me a place that is any different. </p>
<p>Just to use an example, I now live in NW DC, in an area widely perceived as upper middle income and safe. Yet we dare not leave anything of value in a car parked on the street lest it be stolen. And two weeks ago, a few blocks away, a couple was murdered in a botched robbery. Stuff happens.</p>
<p>IMHO, if you can’t get comfortable regarding living in a multicultural urban environment, then U. Chicago (and Penn, Columbia and maybe Harvard) are not the schools for you. There are lots of alternative environments where you might feel safer, even though you are probably not safer.</p>
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<p>Some places have more “isolated incidents” than others though. I’d feel safer in places that historically have had fewer such incidents. </p>
<p>Also, I agree that one must be alert at all times, but being alert when your house is already being broken into might not do much to stop the burglar from doing whatever he’s set on doing. Likewise, being alert on the street when some attacker is already chasing you might not do much either. You’re pretty much helpless in the first scenario, but you can avoid the latter by not being out in the streets late at night (but then you’ll be at home, at the mercy of burglars, oh well). I can’t imagine having to worry about going home at 3 am though, and I’m amazed this guy actually does do that-- go home by himself really late at night, often buzzed. </p>
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What do you mean “multicultural urban environment”? I’m actually already in college, in a multicultural setting that’s much safer. Please don’t assume I come from a sheltered environment. Like I said, I grew up in Chicago, as in the inner-city. However, I’d like to avoid living in that environment when I can.</p>
<p>Do you know of a site that has the crime statistics for the colleges above?</p>
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Is this a house house or an apartment? If the latter, maybe you and this guy I know live in the same building. Did your landlord change the locks on all the units?</p>
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<p>I grew up in Chicago though, and some parts of the city are definitely less safe than others. For example, I’d feel totally comfortable walking around drunk at 3 am on Halsted in Boystown on a weekend night. There are still a lot of people walking around at that time.</p>
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Good point-- you just can’t ever feel safe anymore, well, especially in that area.</p>
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Being vigilant about your surroundings could sometimes help you get out of dangerous situations but not all the time. </p>
<p>Btw, how do you know if someone’s suspicious-looking? I mean, if you were a robber, wouldn’t you try to be inconspicuous?</p>
<p>“I grew up in Chicago though, and some parts of the city are definitely less safe than others. For example, I’d feel totally comfortable walking around drunk at 3 am on Halsted in Boystown on a weekend night. There are still a lot of people walking around at that time.”</p>
<p>Maybe on Halsted, but not on the side streets that late at night.</p>
<p>Halsted is one of the most major streets in Boystown and in the city (just to give context for non-Chicagoans) and if you’re drunk at 3am I’m sure there are a lot of other people there drunk at 3am, as there are lots of bars there.</p>
<p>bump. waiting for Newmassdad’s response.</p>
<p>BP,</p>
<p>Not sure what you are waiting for. I’ll let you figure out the meaning of “multicultural urban environment”. If the term means something to you, think about it. If not, ignore it. Do keep in mind that the perception of risk is not the same as actual risk, since some folks feel safe in areas that are not and vice versa. But the perception does affect one’s sense of well being.</p>
<p>Regarding crime stats, there are several kinds to think about, including those stats collected and reported by the colleges themselves, and those collected by city governments. Unfortunately, the quality of either varies so much that the stats are of little value in comparing two colleges or two cities. And deciding what area is relevant is tough too. Consider U. Chicago: should its crime stats report only crimes on U property, or include nearby areas too? (same issue at Penn and Columbia).</p>
<p>The city of Chicago does have a nice interactive website that allows you to look up crime data block by block, if that is any help. It has been several years since I’ve had a need for it, though, so I can’t give you a link.</p>