Detroit - Named Most Dangerous City in U.S.

**grumpyoldlady** · April-24-09, 06:19 PM

According to Forbes, Detroit is the most dangerous city in the country.

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate...ngerous-Cities

Retroit · April-24-09, 07:58 PM

Way to go criminals! Keeping Detroit at #1 after all these years! Quite an accomplishment.

Toolbox · April-24-09, 08:16 PM

Just keeping it real.

**thecarl** · April-24-09, 08:24 PM

we've all seen rankings like this before, and we all know how detroit fares.

**barnesfoto** · April-24-09, 08:42 PM

Buried in the article is this gem:

"I wish that those with the resources would view domestic terrorism like they do terrorism across the water. It used to be that we were keeping our head above water and treading quickly. Now we are drowning, and no one seems to really care. All they tell me to do is cut some more." -Kym Worthy.

That's the best quote I've heard about Detroit in a long time. Thank you, Kym Worthy

**thecarl** · April-24-09, 09:17 PM

people say, detroit suffers from crime because there are not enough police. well, then, the answer is simple: make every resident of detroit a police officer.

**Ladyinabag** · April-26-09, 03:06 AM

What about Los Angeles? If you go to LosAngelesTimes.com you will see that they have a whole section labeled "murder". L.A. has 5-20 murders on a week-end with all of those gangs. PLEASE!!!

**Mary Murphy** · April-26-09, 05:51 AM

Hi everybody,

I am a french woman. I understand not very well English. But I try to learn. I yet posted on the forum.
" French woman searches grandfather of Detroit". I would like to go to Detroit when I will speak and understand [[better) English.
Is really Detroit a dangerous city for the tourist?
Thank you very much for your answers.

More soon.
Mary

**gazhekwe** · April-26-09, 07:58 AM

Mary, most places you would go to visit and sightsee are safe enough. Detroit is a big city, but there are many places a tourist would never go, just because there is nothing special to see there. In a lot of those places, it might not be safe for a tourist. Think of Paris or Marseilles, it's the same idea. You can go all over in some places, in others places, you wouldn't go there. All the places that have been suggested to you on the other threads are fine.

To others posting, I notice Detroit is in good company, with Nashville, Miami, Orlando and Las Vegas. Some have attempted to make distinctions showing those cities are somehow better and more safe than Detroit. While it is true that Detroit maintains its place at the top of the list, these other places also have problems, yet tourists flock to them. It is the same concept as here, go where tourists go and don't stand out. Who feels 'unsafe' in South Beach? or Disney World? Or the Strip? Compare apples with apples and leave the oranges out of the mix.

detmich · April-26-09, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Mary Murphy

Hi everybody,

I am a french woman. I understand not very well English. But I try to learn. I yet posted on the forum.
" French woman searches grandfather of Detroit". I would like to go to Detroit when I will speak and understand [[better) English.
Is really Detroit a dangerous city for the tourist?
Thank you very much for your answers.

More soon.
Mary

Quite frankly, Detroit is a very dangerous place. There is a mindset, known in the US as Detroitism, whereby Detroit's problems are denied or treated as local flavor. You can not, I will write that again, you can not come to Detroit and wander around. Period, end of discussion.

If you do go to Detroit you will need to have someone with you who can act as a guide and a "Buddy". I am about to be attacked by almost all the other posters on this board for telling you that. But it is simply irresponsible and unfair to tell anyone, let alone a woman from a foreign country who does not speak English fluently that visiting here is like visiting any other city. It is simply not the truth.

Mary- Detroit est une vrai ville tres dangereuse. C'est pas pour un femme seule. Detroit resemblent beaucoup a la ville Naples en Italia. Mais trop mal.

**Roq** · April-26-09, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by detmich

You can not, I will write that again, you can not come to Detroit and wander around. Period, end of discussion.

If you do go to Detroit you will need to have someone with you who can act as a guide and a "Buddy". I am about to be attacked by almost all the other posters on this board for telling you that. But it is simply irresponsible and unfair to tell anyone, let alone a woman from a foreign country who does not speak English fluently that visiting here is like visiting any other city. It is simply not the truth.
l.

Mary, please listen to detmich's advice; he [[or she) is right on the money. I love Detroit and would not live anywhere else by choice, but I'm not blind to the fact is IS an extremely dangerous city. Please find someone to tour the city with as suggested above.

**drjeff** · April-28-09, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by detmich

Quite frankly, Detroit is a very dangerous place. There is a mindset, known in the US as Detroitism, whereby Detroit's problems are denied or treated as local flavor. You can not, I will write that again, you can not come to Detroit and wander around. Period, end of discussion.

If you do go to Detroit you will need to have someone with you who can act as a guide and a "Buddy". I am about to be attacked by almost all the other posters on this board for telling you that. But it is simply irresponsible and unfair to tell anyone, let alone a woman from a foreign country who does not speak English fluently that visiting here is like visiting any other city. It is simply not the truth.

Mary- Detroit est une vrai ville tres dangereuse. C'est pas pour un femme seule. Detroit resemblent beaucoup a la ville Naples en Italia. Mais trop mal.

You're right and wrong. PARTS of Detroit are dangerous. But the parts that a tourist would visit are not. Downtown is one of the safer downtowns in a major city, statistically. The Eastern Market area is fine. Belle Isle is fine. The theater/stadium district is fine. The Museum/WSU district is fine. West Grand around the Motown Museum is fine during the day when a tourist might visit. The worst thing about being a tourist in Detroit would be that there's not good way to get between all these areas without good public transportation, and driving here as an outsider is not at all easy. It does no one any good to make a blanket statement that "Detroit is very dangerous!!!" when in fact many parts of the city are perfectly safe.

**firstandten** · April-28-09, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by drjeff

You're right and wrong. PARTS of Detroit are dangerous. But the parts that a tourist would visit are not. Downtown is one of the safer downtowns in a major city, statistically. The Eastern Market area is fine. Belle Isle is fine. The theater/stadium district is fine. The Museum/WSU district is fine. West Grand around the Motown Museum is fine during the day when a tourist might visit. The worst thing about being a tourist in Detroit would be that there's not good way to get between all these areas without good public transportation, and driving here as an outsider is not at all easy. It does no one any good to make a blanket statement that "Detroit is very dangerous!!!" when in fact many parts of the city are perfectly safe.

Very fine points you make,

Tourist areas in most big cities are safe, after all its bad for business if it isn't . Its the neighborhoods that are the problem, Detroit is a city of neighborhoods and it not really consisted a tourist type city. Its a lot easier in a city like Detroit to hype the crime angle for that reason. Also in a city with such high unemployment illegal activities such as the drug economy fills in the income gaps. A lot of crime happens because there are people involved in directly and indirectly with that drug economy. You have random incidents of course, but in reality there's usually a reason why people are victimized when you consider violent crimes.

**MrMichigan** · September-25-17, 11:14 PM

http://www.freep.com/story/news/2017...nce/700443001/

Detroit is once again back on top. My question is, how many of you have directly experienced crime in the city and in what area? Talking the last 5-10 years.

**313WX** · September-25-17, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by MrMichigan

http://www.freep.com/story/news/2017...nce/700443001/

Detroit is once again back on top. My question is, how many of you have directly experienced crime in the city and in what area? Talking the last 5-10 years.

One thing that stands out in that article is while you have a certain group of members who like to show off their inferiority complex and beat up on Chicago, even with their recent increase in murders, they still have a per-capita murder rate far lower than Detroit's.

**firstandten** · September-26-17, 12:50 AM

Originally Posted by MrMichigan

http://www.freep.com/story/news/2017...nce/700443001/

Detroit is once again back on top. My question is, how many of you have directly experienced crime in the city and in what area? Talking the last 5-10 years.

I live in the city proper and I've haven't experienced anything major in many, many years. Having said that I do live in one of the nicer neighborhoods in the city, however I watch where I go. I absolutely do not go to the hood gas stations at night, and I don't leave things in my car to make it a target. I am not a part of the underground drug economy which contributes largely to the crime in the city. I feel the last part can not be overstated. Most of the crime you hear about in the news and on TV can be directly or indirectly related to the illegal drug economy.

DetroitNightLights · September-25-17, 11:55 PM

In ten years of living in downtown Detroit, I never had any problems.

**night-timer** · September-26-17, 06:25 AM

This is a topic that could go on and on... and it probably will.

Like some of you, I saw the "Detroit Most Dangerous!" story in the news last night.

This website is Detroit-centric, and that's completely understandable.

So, this recent news report about Detroit having the "Most Dangerous Status" also said that Detroit has more homicides than Los Angeles, with "four times Detroit's population".

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Greater LA County has far more than "four times" the 750k population of Detroit.

LA would rival Chicago and New York.

Detroit being the most dangerous place on earth is a tired old cliche'.

Yes, there are obvious areas to avoid if you're a white tourist in an Anorak.

But are we looking at Detroit from the perspective of an insider or an out-of-town outsider?

The guy posting comments about romantic dinners might want to look at Greektown, even though he won't get much highrise there.

Likewise, other visitors to Detroit will also find Greektown quite nice, along with Downtown, Ren Cen/Riverwalk, Belle Isle in the daytime before it shuts, Corktown [[along Michigan Avenue), Midtown, Foxtown and the 'Theater District' near Midtown, Jefferson Avenue, and DIA/WSU [[not much food there, though).

The crime is mostly drug-related and does not occur in the built-up areas.

Looking beyond the City of Detroit, every major American city has areas that should be avoided. Even Washington DC has a long strip of sleazy strip clubs only a block or two from the Whitehouse.

In addition, those "most dangerous" polls focus on 'major' cities; Flint [[also in Michigan) is more dangerous than Detroit, but it never rates a mention because it is not seen as a major player or tourist drawcard.

Enough said for now.

**Honky Tonk** · September-26-17, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by night-timer

This is a topic that could go on and on... and it probably will.

Like some of you, I saw the "Detroit Most Dangerous!" story in the news last night.

This website is Detroit-centric, and that's completely understandable.

So, this recent news report about Detroit having the "Most Dangerous Status" also said that Detroit has more homicides than Los Angeles, with "four times Detroit's population".

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Greater LA County has far more than "four times" the 750k population of Detroit.

LA would rival Chicago and New York.

Detroit being the most dangerous place on earth is a tired old cliche'.

Yes, there are obvious areas to avoid if you're a white tourist in an Anorak.

But are we looking at Detroit from the perspective of an insider or an out-of-town outsider?

The guy posting comments about romantic dinners might want to look at Greektown, even though he won't get much highrise there.

Likewise, other visitors to Detroit will also find Greektown quite nice, along with Downtown, Ren Cen/Riverwalk, Belle Isle in the daytime before it shuts, Corktown [[along Michigan Avenue), Midtown, Foxtown and the 'Theater District' near Midtown, Jefferson Avenue, and DIA/WSU [[not much food there, though).

The crime is mostly drug-related and does not occur in the built-up areas.

Looking beyond the City of Detroit, every major American city has areas that should be avoided. Even Washington DC has a long strip of sleazy strip clubs only a block or two from the Whitehouse.

In addition, those "most dangerous" polls focus on 'major' cities; Flint [[also in Michigan) is more dangerous than Detroit, but it never rates a mention because it is not seen as a major player or tourist drawcard.

Enough said for now.

Good post, Bro', what Detroit neighborhood do you live in?

**Bham1982** · September-26-17, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by night-timer

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Greater LA County has far more than "four times" the 750k population of Detroit.

LA would rival Chicago and New York.

This is a city comparison, not a county comparison. LA County crime stats are irrelevent.

NYC has around 8.5 million people, LA has around 3.9 million people, and Chicago has around 2.7 million people, BTW.

**iheartthed** · September-26-17, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by night-timer

Detroit being the most dangerous place on earth is a tired old cliche'.

Yes, there are obvious areas to avoid if you're a white tourist in an Anorak.

But are we looking at Detroit from the perspective of an insider or an out-of-town outsider?

These articles are the original click bait. It is useless information for 99.9% of people who read it. Even the Free Press article acknowledges:

Note: The FBI specifically advises against using its data to create rankings. According to the FBI's website, such comparisons "lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents."

You are far more likely to be assaulted or murdered if you are a Detroit resident than if you are a visitor. And within the population of Detroit residents there are other indicators that would also greatly increase or decrease your likelihood of being a murder victim [[socioeconomic status, affiliation with violent social circles, etc.). This is really a news story about math that the media can easily slap a sensational headline on and reliably get cheap ratings.

**MrMichigan** · September-26-17, 08:24 AM

To add to my post, I've lived on the east side for about a year and a half and have not experienced any crime. I expect to one day, but who knows.

**Meddle** · September-26-17, 09:05 AM

There are still entire sections of the city that are unsafe. Always have been and always will be. Part of city life in any city. There is no disputing that.

Until and unless the 'recovery' extends well outside the small central area now seeing signs, the city will always be a sewer in the eyes of the world.

DetroitNightLights · September-26-17, 11:45 AM

The Police in Detroit have been doing a great job getting rid of the problem of motor vehicle threat.

Detroit: Towing company swiped cars in elaborate scheme:
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/new...cam/105797000/

The more eyes on the street there is, the more crime will go down. Detroit was a place with a lot of "crimes of opportunity" involving theft, burglary, larceny, building code violations, and vandalism.

**rex** · September-26-17, 05:00 PM

Heres the thing Mary. The parts of town with interesting things to see are safe enough but you always need to be aware of your surroundings. The areas that blow up the crime stats [[unless you are interested in crack and heroin) are areas to avoid. There is not a whole lot of touristic value. The biggest exception here is Mexican village. I'm not suggesting its a war zone but there is crime and you should be aware. You should also check out eastern market which is safe.

Come to Detroit, have a blast, keep and open mind, and realize that if you are walking around ruin porn sites on the east side with an 800 dollar camera, a 1500 dollar channel bag there is a pretty good chance someone will see you as an easy mark and take you for your stuff and if thats all they take consider yourself fortunate