<p>My son spent four years at USC graduating this May. He lived off-campus for three years. He was never robbed and no damage was every done to his car. The areas immediately surrounding USC are made up of students and working class Hispanics. Generally, the neighborhoods are clean and graffiti-free. </p>
<p>These neighborhoods are slowly going through gentrification since they were once some of the best areas in LA. They have have an excellent number of 19th century, early 20th century houses.</p>
<p>The neighborhoods are safe IF you pay attention, and do not believe that because you are 19-years old you are invulnerable and nothing bad can happen to you. Do not walk around drunk at night by yourself, and do not look for drug deals in downtown LA alleys. And btw, I saw fewer street people in the USC area than I did in Westwood.</p>
<p>Note above that I posted two recent links to discussions about crime at colleges. Take a look at them.</p>