Dec. 3, 2006
I have often been asked by buyers about safety in different neighborhoods, and about the types of crime that have occurred there, if any.
I certainly understand this concern, and have had it myself when buying homes in different cities. There are a number of things you can do to find out about crime in an area you are interested in. And since safety means different things to different people, looking into this yourself and feeling comfortable about it is the best solution.
- Call the local police department for that community. They can give you the best and most recent information, and answer other questions you may have about police response and other matters.
- Check the website for the Chamber of Commerce and/or the city. They often provide crime statistics, but they may not be completely up to date. (If you are looking here in Southern California, visit my information resources page)
- Drive around the area at different times of the day and week to get a feel for the traffic and the amount of activity in the area.
- For concerns about sexual predator's there are websites you can check. Here in California there is a site through the Attorney General's Office that list registered sex offenders.
- The local newspapers will often list weekly police reports that will give an indication of the reported crimes in different areas.
Hope this helps. Let me know if there are other questions.