Houston: police report increased crime in north, southwest

[seamusTX]

According to a story in the Houston Chronicle today, HPD has reported double-digit increases in violent crime and theft in several districts, notably north of 610 and southwest between I-10 and 59:

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas ... 586708.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.houstontx.gov/police/cs/beat ... _stats.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For anyone who knows Houston, I guess the trend is not a big surprise, but the year-over-year jump is. Westchase is not the yuppie paradise that it used to be.

My only word of caution is that "violent crime" does not distinguish between people who were looking for trouble (drug traffickers, drunken bar fights, etc.) and unprovoked assaults and robberies.

- Jim

[ddurkof]

Tell me it isn't so!!! Westchase not safe??? This is my shocked face Situational awareness trumps all in avoiding being a victim, followed by being able to make an armed response when necessary. Avoidance is best of all, but it is ultimately the thug's choice.

[recaffeination]

My only word of caution is that "violent crime" does not distinguish between people who were looking for trouble (drug traffickers, drunken bar fights, etc.) and unprovoked assaults and robberies.

Neither do rounds that miss their target and hit a bystander.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Houstonites:

Are these neighborhoods, perchance, where the Katrina refugees have settled?

SIA

[seamusTX]

Westchase is an upscale area, mostly newer housing and office buildings and the kind of businesses that go in that environment. That's why I found the increase surprising.

There has been a concentration of sleazy apartments southwest along Bellaire and Beachnut that puts a lot of less-than-respectable people in easy commuting distance of some wealthy areas.

It has been almost seven years since Katrina. The overall crime rate in Houston is lower now than it was before 2005.

- Jim

[Jumping Frog]

Are these neighborhoods, perchance, where the Katrina refugees have settled?

There has been a huge change in the FM 1960 area since Katrina. The biggest influx there started when they added bus service to the area, primarily due to the refugees. Changed the nature of the neighborhood.

Disclaimer, I haven't lived in the general area long enough to know personally. This is what I have been told by multiple long-term residents. One is a local realtor with 25 years experience in this area.

[ELB]

...

My only word of caution is that "violent crime" does not distinguish between people who were looking for trouble (drug traffickers, drunken bar fights, etc.) and unprovoked assaults and robberies.

- Jim

Observing the rule of the four stupids eliminates a large percentage of opportunities to be a victim:

"Don't do stupid things with stupid people in stupid places at stupid times."

Sometimes easier said than done, just like "situational awareness," but generally true.

But of course there are certain times of life, and certain people, where "the four stupids" is the definition of fun...

[seamusTX]

I admit I did a few dumb things in my life that seemed at the time like they would be fun, but they did not include illegal drug deals, gang fights, mouthing off in bars, or messing with the wives and girlfriends of other guys.

The problem that has been creeping up on Westchase for a few years is actual robbery of law-abiding people because they are likely to have expensive jewelry, laptops, and the like. I don't know how easily you can hock a purse, but some of those purses cost $1,000 new all by themselves.

Theft of laptops and other goodies from cars parked at restaurants and bars is also serious there. When I worked in the area, the company warned us flat out not to leave company-owned equipment in cars parked that way.

- Jim

[tbrown]

Houstonites:

Are these neighborhoods, perchance, where the Katrina refugees have settled?

SIA

I'm not from Houston but I visit sometimes. I think it's more a case of "rich" neighborhoods near "poor" neighborhoods in those areas, plus the general decline in the economy, and lower social standards. There are people who will work when they can find a job but easily turn to theft when they can't (or to supplement their income) so a long term bad economy means more of them committing burglary of vehicles, residences and businesses. I have read most buglers commit crimes within a few miles of home, in areas they know. I also think the lowered social standards of tolerating "gangsta culture" leads to more violent crime.