Crime in DC

[Anonymous]

We have just moved into the city - NW area. What is the deal with crime in this city. When we told people we were coming here - many people responded with "oh, the crime in DC is out of control....". I have to say I have read the police reports in the Northwest Current, for example. It makes me nervous. I see robberies at gunpoint in Dupont Circle area and Adams Morgan. Yet, families live here - and real estate is expensive. Maybe I am naive - should I be concerened. I am interested in other peoples real experiences.

[Anonymous]

People are mugged at gunpoint and beaten in suburban areas around here as well. Affluent neighborhoods have multiple break-ins, car and home. It happens in the city, it happens in suburbia, it happens in the midwest. Check out crimereports.com if you want up-to-date incidents, this site posts complaints that are reported to the police and updates the status of the charges and so on.

If it brings you any peace of mind you could just confine yourself to your house for the rest of your life or do what the rest of us do. Do not put yourself into knowingly dangerous situations, always keep an eye out around you and if the unfortunate happens do not go about it quietly, report it to the police and to your local neighborhood association.

[Anonymous]

Just be smart about things. There are a few areas right now in NW that aren't the safest during the day due to random crime (G'town near the campus these last few months for instance) but otherwise, your chances of being a crime victim are very low if you're aware of your surroundings, etc. Welcome, I'm sure you'll love it here.

[Anonymous]

I would agree with the last poster. There are crimes everywhere, and some spots of DC are a little risky... overall, I think (at least in NW) DC is quite safe for an urban area. It's easy (especially with kids) to freak yourself out a bit. Every once in awhile a particuarly offensive (or close to home) crime will bother me too... but then I'll watch the local news and hear about car accident fatalities of commuters- and I realize if I lived in the suburbs I would worry about that.

I can say I've lived in DC for 10 years... and made some not-so-totally safe decisions... lived in neighborhoods on the edge of what was considered safe... and I have never even so much as had my wallet stolen. I have had several bikes stolen- but nothing has happened to me. Any other city I've lived in, I have been the victim of some other crime. I don't mean to suggest that my personal experience is anything more than anecdotal... but just to offer some comfort.

Over time, I think you will find DC is a relatively safe place to live. Welcome to DC!

[Anonymous]

Just curious, where did you move from?

There is crime everywhere, but if you maintain awareness of your surroundings and don't put yourself in dangerous situations, you can avoid most of it. I think if you read the police blotter anywhere you could work yourself into a tizzy. Like the PP, I have lived in DC almost 10 years now and have often lived in some questionable neighborhoods and the only price I've paid has been two stolen bikes. Oh, and two broken car windows.

[Anonymous]

What has been going on near GU?

[Anonymous]

Even the largest amounts of wealth in this area can't buy your way out of crime. It happens. Sometimes it happens in amazingly brazen ways, like the home invasions in Chevy Chase or street killings near Georgetown. You really just need to do what you can to be safe, especially in common sense ways like locking your doors and being aware of your surroundings. Just be glad you aren't living in a neighborhood where drug dealers run the streets and violence is much more commonplace.

[Anonymous]

Since November or so there seems to have been an increase in random crime during the day in Georgetown. A few beatings and many robberies at gunpoint near my office (36 and O). Nothing that would be abnormal at 4 am, but alarming at 4 pm.

[Anonymous]

I feel that there's been an increase in violent crime in upper NW, too, although I can't point to figures. I just get that sense from following postings on the Chevy Chase and Cleveland Park listservs. Still, the number of incidents remains low (although even one can send me into a panic).