Recent crime in my neighborhood (rant!)
I realize that living Detroit comes with a certain amount of risk (as does living anywhere), but things seem to be getting closer and closer to home recently and it’s starting to make me kind of nervous. In the news today is a state police officer getting shot at a westside gas station. I’ve had my own run-ins with crime lately too that I didn’t expect.
Just before the Tastefest a few weeks ago, I was sitting in drive to my apartment complex in my car. I was waiting for my girlfriend’s brother who had just parked his car on Cass to walk to my car and out of nowhere he starts running to my car. Upon him jumping in the car, we observe a small car bust through the gates of the historical museum parking lot through a metal fence and zip north on Cass. Immediately behind him were about five or six cop cars. According to my girlfriend’s brother, the driver of said car was shooting at the cops in the parking lot and tried to get away. While we weren’t personally affected by the crime, it was shocking that this could happen directly in front of my building in a “safe” part of the city. What’s more shocking is that it didn’t even make the news at all. Not the TV news, not the papers, nothing. You can still see the demolished fence in the Historical Museum parking lot.
Maybe I’m just not very good at “keeping it real”, but sometimes living in Detroit proper can be a dangerous place. I’ve had people in my building mugged in the middle of the daytime. Have any of you guys experience crime like this in your “safe” neighborhoods? Is this kind of thing so common in the city that it doesn’t even make the news? Why on earth does the city council continue to cut spending on Police?
the real truth is that Detroit still isn’t exactly the safest place… i too live in Midtown and while my personal experience is good, i haven’t been directly effected by any crime, i know that things still happen… things that never happened when i lived in the ‘burbs…
i think what you experienced is the reality of living in Detroit… sometimes things like that are just going to happen and if that surprises you, you might want to rethink about where you’re living… i’m not trying to diminish your rant… it’s quite valid… but you knew coming down here that this stuff just might happen to you…
okay, here’s one for you: i live in the East English Village area, about six houses away from the Grosse Pointe border and about six months ago my house was broken into (during the day) and i was CLEANED OUT, then a couple months later i got home and my neighbor told me he caught some people trying to pry open a window again (and since the first robbery an alarm was installed and the window they were prying has and alarm sticker on it) then last week i woke up to find the wheels missing on my car. yesterday i was out house shopping. i understand that crime happens everywhere but i also understand that being paranoid 24/7 isn’t good for a person.
the events as if it was a film!
That is really scary. I’m really sorry to hear your stories Tom and Max. I guess most of us try and ignore the possibility of being affected by crime until we are directly affected. I am paranoid about any accomodations that are only 3 floors off the ground, regardless of location. I would highly recommend living in an apartment building with front desk security. It’s a good start.