high violent crime rates in fort myers?!! that's totally bogus!!! (Sarasota: apartment complexes, homes)

[RECD Designz]

Originally Posted by HockeyMom72

NYC has one of the lowest crime rates in the country now. Why? Credit 9/11for that one. Every where you go you see law enforcement, be that local, state, and federal. Just imagine how many are in plain clothes that you don't see?

Even more so after 9/11, but crime was dropping in NYC even before that. Police presence is a big factor, be they uniformed or plain clothes.

[FLtoMaine]

I've been in this area almost 20 years, and no, i'm not afraid to go out, but yes the crime is high here in my opinion. all you have to do is listen to the nightly news and more often or not you will hear about a murder, burglary etc. many cities are not like that. my husband and i travel a lot. we spent almost a month out of state in one particular area and couldn't help but notice how there was just no crime. (the big stories we heard on the news were a neighbor stealing a lawn ornament and someone being escourted out of a restaurant for disorderly conduct.) on that particular trip i recall us driving back home into this area and the first thing we hear on the news is that a body stuffed in a suitcase was found in the river. so typical, and sad. it's true some pockets in ft. myers are worse than others, but there is also too much random crime. wish it wasn't so.

[babyru]

murders in fort myers: less than 50
murders in chicago: 450+

i really dont see how u could compare the two?

[novanative75]

Originally Posted by babyru

murders in fort myers: less than 50
murders in chicago: 450+

i really dont see how u could compare the two?

Apples and oranges, I am guessing the population of Chicago is a little more than FM??

My husband and I joke, (and we used to live in DC!) that every night when we are watching the news it is 'Murder in Fort Myers' or 'Gunshots in Fort Myers' and of course do not forget the daily, 'Growhouse in Lehigh Acres!'

[picabo]

You have to remember that we here in fort myers have recently gotten a huge population explosion from Miami in the last couple of years. 2 years ago, houses and rent were so high in Miami, that alot of people moved from the inner city over here to this side. Along with that came the criminals. Check the arrest around here for drugs etc. and 9 out of 10 times the criminal came over alligator alley from Miami. Also, remember that alot of felons flee to the florida area anyway. I am always reading about US Marshalls finding a most wanted person down in a rental on Ft. Myers Beach. People come here from all over to flee their criminal past. They flee their child support, etc. They think they can, and in most cases, they disappear into the diversity here. Be careful who you befriend here, because alot of innocent people don't know that their new found neighbor or friends are rotten eggs from around the world. I would never move here if I had to do it all over again. The plus side is that Dec, Jan, Feb and March the weather is beautiful! But you can't get to the beach in the massive traffic jams. Unless you go at 8:30 a.m. to get a parking spot. Everyday there is an "estate" sale in our neighborhood, people constantly moving back up north. It's always been that way here. Also, if you don't like to be hot, you won't like it here. It is 94 degrees from June 1st to approximately October 30th, almost every day. There is no relief, but the awesome thunderstorms we get everyday this time of year. And not to mention the fact, you have to get insurance thru the goverment for your house if you are within 10 miles of the coast. Remember the hurricanes?

[hiknapster]

That sums it up, picabo.

Great post.

[jim09091]

After growing up in S. FL (east coast) and also living right next door to Roxbury in Boston, I find most of SWFL extremely safe.

Like everything, with the growth has come changes. I just would like to keep this coast from becomming the east coast for as long as possible.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by jim09091

After growing up in S. FL (east coast) and also living right next door to Roxbury in Boston, I find most of SWFL extremely safe.

Like everything, with the growth has come changes. I just would like to keep this coast from becomming the east coast for as long as possible.

So it all has to do with perspective.

If you are coming from a sleepy town in Ohio, and you think that your retirement is going to be one long vacation, the crime will probably be pretty shocking.

[jrainer]

yeeeaaahhh.....so, the problem with ft myers is that all of the the little thugs running around wanting so badly to be a gangster, and doing stupid things to prove it. My sister's high school friend was murdered a few months ago, a buddy of mine was stabbed by multiple people at a sports bar. the stories are endless. this place will be the next st louis. go talk to a teacher (with more than 5 yrs exp) about how respectful the kids are and how involved the parents are. that place needs a major overhaul.

[JMadison]

Originally Posted by picabo

You have to remember that we here in fort myers have recently gotten a huge population explosion from Miami in the last couple of years. 2 years ago, houses and rent were so high in Miami, that alot of people moved from the inner city over here to this side. Along with that came the criminals. Check the arrest around here for drugs etc. and 9 out of 10 times the criminal came over alligator alley from Miami. Also, remember that alot of felons flee to the florida area anyway. I am always reading about US Marshalls finding a most wanted person down in a rental on Ft. Myers Beach. People come here from all over to flee their criminal past. They flee their child support, etc. They think they can, and in most cases, they disappear into the diversity here. Be careful who you befriend here, because alot of innocent people don't know that their new found neighbor or friends are rotten eggs from around the world. I would never move here if I had to do it all over again. The plus side is that Dec, Jan, Feb and March the weather is beautiful! But you can't get to the beach in the massive traffic jams. Unless you go at 8:30 a.m. to get a parking spot. Everyday there is an "estate" sale in our neighborhood, people constantly moving back up north. It's always been that way here. Also, if you don't like to be hot, you won't like it here. It is 94 degrees from June 1st to approximately October 30th, almost every day. There is no relief, but the awesome thunderstorms we get everyday this time of year. And not to mention the fact, you have to get insurance thru the goverment for your house if you are within 10 miles of the coast. Remember the hurricanes?

So would you say the demographic percentages listed on city-data.com (most likely based on the 2000 census) are way far off from the current reality in the area?