# Questions about New Orleans crime **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 16, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-new-orleans-crime/560832 "2010-11-16T04:45:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-new-orleans-crime/560832/1 "2010-11-16T04:45:51Z")
I’ve heard there’s a lot of crime in New Orleans, and I’m wondering if it’s just typical city life kind of stuff where you just pay attention and use your head or if it’s more mug you in your sleep even if you live in a nice neighborhood kind of stuff. I’ve also heard that the good/not so good neighborhoods are right on top of each other anyway, a block this way = safe/a block that way = not safe. It seems like such a great city considering all the live music and the gulf climate, but I’m thinking of visiting there alone and I’d like to be prepared. It’s fun to get kind of lost when visiting a new city, is it safe to wander in New Orleans? Any locals care to shed some light? ---
**Author:** ![LeidenFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eada6e/32.png) [@LeidenFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeidenFrost)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-new-orleans-crime/560832/2 "2010-11-16T06:40:12Z")
posting from New Orleans right now… I’ve lived here for almost 6 years. -The good block/bad block thing is definitely true, but most people will not bother you. People here are very talkative and will ask you how you are doing, but you’re not likely to get robbed unless you are in a REALLY bad area, of which do exist. -You can ride through pretty much any area on a bicycle without any problems. No one is going to chase after you we’re not that crazy. -I would almost certainly not “wander” around and get lost here, especially at night, and especially when alone. -My rap sheet: I’ve had my house broken into twice, my car broken into once, and I got jumped by 3 guys once. ---
**Author:** ![mufatango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@mufatango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mufatango)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-new-orleans-crime/560832/3 "2010-11-16T13:07:47Z")
Easiest, most general rule: when in the French Quarter at night, stay south of Rampart. Also, don’t walk through the less-well-lit, purely residential parts of the Quarter at night. Stick to Bourbon, Royal, Chartres, and Decatur. E.g. if you walk through the Quarter to the Marigny to see jazz at Snug Harbor or The Spotted Cat (recommended!!) walk down Decatur, not Bourbon. Bourbon goes from all bars/clubs to all residential about halfway. I lived in the French Quarter for two years after Katrina. My rap sheet: one stolen bicycle, one bicycle broken/crushed and left in the lock, one 2am home invasion by three crackheads. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-new-orleans-crime/560832/4 "2010-11-16T14:56:05Z")
That’s some good info. Ive been to New Orleans a few times now and just love it, but maybe naive Canadian that I am I haven’t been as careful as I should be. Will cetainly check out the cat. Pretty sure we strolled by it last time. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-new-orleans-crime/560832/5 "2010-11-16T16:34:26Z")
The violent crime rate has significantly dropped post Katrina. That’s what happens when 40% of the population leaves. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-new-orleans-crime/560832/6 "2010-11-16T17:09:29Z")
I think [this](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://jfmstatic.net/images/uploads/blog/20091206-0843-940px-beware-pickpockets-and-loose-women.jpg&imgrefurl=http://joshmadison.com/notebook/beware-pickpockets-and-loose-women/&usg=__INivxZzkh6Aa1fYg8Zo6-DnF24A=&h=731&w=940&sz=264&hl=en&start=1&zoom=1&tbnid=NbjnAmcajh46vM:&tbnh=115&tbnw=148&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbeware%2Bpickpockets%2Band%2Bloose%2Bwomen%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1) New Orleans street sign says it all. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-new-orleans-crime/560832/7 "2010-11-17T03:26:43Z")
Here’s some statistics for you: [2010 Crime Rates for Major Cities](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_cities_by_crime_rate) Make of it what you will. ---
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-new-orleans-crime/560832/8 "2010-11-17T04:33:56Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Here’s some statistics for you: > > [2010 Crime Rates for Major Cities](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_cities_by_crime_rate) > > Make of it what you will. Holy Cow! Why do you think the murder rate is so high? I mean…that’s …just…wow. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-new-orleans-crime/560832/9 "2010-11-17T15:11:27Z")
A grim _Time_ magazine article from four years ago; from all I’ve heard, things haven’t gotten any better since: [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1194016,00.html](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1194016,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-new-orleans-crime/560832/10 "2010-11-17T17:41:47Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > A grim _Time_ magazine article from four years ago; from all I’ve heard, things haven’t gotten any better since: [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1194016,00.html](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1194016,00.html) Thanks for the link, the article was really interesting. Shocking, but interesting. ---
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-new-orleans-crime/560832/11 "2010-11-17T17:47:47Z")
missed the edit window: I can’t tell though, if it’s a neighborhood thing like it is in many cities. For example in San Francisco (which doesn’t really compare statistically) you’re pretty safe in some spots, and possibly not in others. When you do find yourself in the sketchy neibs you just kind of move fast and keep your head down. Is N.O similar or not at all? Are there safe neighborhoods where you could live and not worry too much about crime?