Hopkins: Intimidated by Baltimore Crime

[globalhealth09]

I am pretty set on going to Hopkins next year, but I'm trying to figure out how to deal with the crime.

If you're not intimidated yet, check out this map: http://www.spotcrime.com/md/baltimore

You have to deselect "view all" to see certain incidents. There are so many that you can only view a week of incidents if you have numerous types of incidents selected (you can see a list of the dates of the incidents it is showing on the bottom of the map). For instance, if you select only assaults when looking at the map of the area from the Medical Campus to Homewood Campus, including Mt. Vernon, you see a map covered with "fist" symbols that can only fit as many incidents that happened since August 16, 2008. You can zoom in and out to look at particular neighborhoods. There don't seem to be any rapes on the map in the neighborhoods around the Homewood campus area, but there numerous break-ins and armed robberies. You can probably get a police escort home every night, but that doesn't cover the rest of the night. My coworker who went to Bloomberg told me a girl was almost kidnapped at 2 p.m. while running on a busy street near the Homewood Campus.

I am a relatively small female and am planning to try to live in an apartment building (not a rowhouse - too easy to break into) and to have at least 2 roommates. I'll take the Rape Aggression Defense course that Hopkins offers to all of its female students, but it doesn't exactly instill a ton of confidence in me. Does anyone have any suggestions for apartments that are sticklers about security and for a young woman to stay safe in the area?

Thanks!

[orangepotato]

Hi, I completely understand your concern. I didn't click on your link but I have been looking at the Baltimore Crime Map, which is probably the same thing. I think the most important thing to do is to choose a safe neighborhood near the shuttle, and exercise the usual caution that you would in any metropolitan area. Charles Village, Mount Vernon, Canton, Fells Point, and Federal Hill are all good choices. Familiarize yourself with a map of Baltimore and where the delineations between neighborhoods are -- don't rely wholly on realtor descriptions. Forums on city-data.com are a good resource too. If it makes you feel more comfortable, I think it is a good idea to look into those larger buildings with a 24-hour front desk, key cards, etc.

On the crime map you also need to look at what kind of crime is occurring. For example, I saw a bunch of crimes in Mount Vernon but they were mostly shoplifting and thefts from cars. So, not really things that will affect me. The assaults listed were not random aggressions against people on the street but rather something reported to the police that happened inside a private home among family members, friends. Again, not really a good thing, but not a threat to my safety when walking around the neighborhood.

I know crime stats are scary, but also remember that statistically women are much more likely to experience violence perpetrated by friends, family members, and acquaintances. I wouldn't say this fact comforts me, but it makes me less obsessed with hypothetical violent scenarios.

Sorry I can't recommend any particular buildings, but good luck in your search.

[Melicia]

Hey there,

I lived in B'more for a while and I am a very petite (under 5 foot) woman. I have also worked in some rather dubious nabes in NYC - sometimes by myself. Know where you are going. Keep yourself aware. Do not be flashy (no fur coats and diamond rings!). Make sure all the windows are locked and if you have an A/C (which you should - B'more summers are pretty humid) make sure that it is appropriately installed (the apt. handyman should help you with that). Oh, and the higher the floor, the better. The tips that globalheath09 gave were totally spot on. In addition, I lived in Roland Park (10 min N of the Homewood campus), which is quite fine if you have a car. Also, look a little outside of B'more, like Towson, if you are still a bit freaked out.

B'more is not as bad as The Wire makes it out to be (and crime stats for almost any urban area are going to feel staggering). The police escort every night feels a bit much; if I recall correctly JHU has student escorts and vans that should be just fine. Also, program your phone with cab numbers.

Having roomies can be good or bad - just make sure that they are safety conscious as well. Oh, and sane. See of you can meet them in person beforehand.

Have you spoken to any women currently at JHU about your worries?

[Rutabaga]

I also have "the fear" of Baltimore I have to say. I live in DC and already that can be really bad at times in terms of crime and feeling intimidated walking down the street. I know some people who bought a house in a developing area of Baltimore (don't know which off the top of my head) only to have their house broken into twice and to realize that there is an open air drug market outside their house during the day.

I'm also really tempted by Hopkins (assuming I get money) but living someplace safer (I hate having to be on edge all the time) is also tempting.

[orangepotato]

Also, there is a Baltimore discussion in the City Guide forum.

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=285

[emolino]

Hi -

I'm a Baltimore resident and live in nearby Mt. Vernon. I love Baltimore and would encourage you to not be intimidated. The key is to have common sense (don't walk alone at night etc.). There is a lot to enjoy about the city and I wouldn't let fear determine your fate. Also, here's a blog that you may be interested in from a Hopkins student that had the same feelings as you on the outset but has grown to the love the area.

http://hopkins.typepad.com/kate/2008/12 ... pkins.html

Hope this helps.

[Almost Postdoc]

This thread is helpful! I am about to formally accept a postdoctoral position at Hopkins SPH and as a young slight female am concerned about where to live. I make smart choices, and have previously lived alone in DC for many years, several years ago, with no problems, but would love to revive this thread if anyone had more to add. I'm going to look into a building with keycards etc that one of the posters mentioned, that would make me feel very safe. I will be traveling a lot, no roommate, and thus my apartment will be empty for at least 1 week a month and I would not like it to get burglarized! Although, my first concern is of course for my safety as "stuff" can be replaced, and I'm not very flashy anyway.

[shmuey]

Hi -

I'm a Baltimore resident and live in nearby Mt. Vernon. I love Baltimore and would encourage you to not be intimidated. The key is to have common sense (don't walk alone at night etc.). There is a lot to enjoy about the city and I wouldn't let fear determine your fate. Also, here's a blog that you may be interested in from a Hopkins student that had the same feelings as you on the outset but has grown to the love the area.

http://hopkins.typepad.com/kate/2008/12 ... pkins.html

Hope this helps.

I too am a Baltimore resident (but a male) and honestly have not had any issues living in the city, and have heard of very little issues among my friends which are spread out across the city. Like Emolino says, just have common sense. The area directly surrounding Hopkins is a little shady, but the surrounding areas where you'd want to live are not bad at all. Look into areas such as Canton, Patterson (south of the park, not north), and Mt. Vernon. Certain parts of Fells Point are fine as well, just don't go too far north. TONS of individuals in their mid 20's-30's live in the area, and there are always rooms for rent on Craigslist, from normal people like you. Just check it out and don't be afraid. But under no circumstance should you be walking around Hopkins late at night, and never alone. Hope this helps :-)

As for being burglarized...this doesn't happen (ok, sometimes it does, but its not that common). Obviously you don't leave your doors and windows unlocked, but otherwise its not a common thing. Don't ever leave anything visible in your car either. This is a city, but its not like you're living in an episode of The Wire.

Edited March 2, 2011 by shmuey

[vh1979]

I'm not so sure about the "not living in an episode of the Wire". I live in Baltimore and go to Hopkins. I moved last year b/c a dead body was found in the dumpster of my building. No I'm not kidding. I lived in downtown Baltimore and moved to Mt.Vernon. Two weeks ago a friend's car got broken into right outside her apt building in Mt Vernon. I absolutely LOVE Hopkins and have no regrets coming here. But I do regret having moved to Baltimore. I would suggest moving to one of the 'burbs close to Baltimore like Towson, which is really nice and affordable. You will need a car to commute, but you probably should have a car in Baltimore anyway. Its tough to get around for groceries and such without a car in this city. The bus system is not reliable.

[shmuey]

I'm not so sure about the "not living in an episode of the Wire". I live in Baltimore and go to Hopkins. I moved last year b/c a dead body was found in the dumpster of my building. No I'm not kidding. I lived in downtown Baltimore and moved to Mt.Vernon. Two weeks ago a friend's car got broken into right outside her apt building in Mt Vernon. I absolutely LOVE Hopkins and have no regrets coming here. But I do regret having moved to Baltimore. I would suggest moving to one of the 'burbs close to Baltimore like Towson, which is really nice and affordable. You will need a car to commute, but you probably should have a car in Baltimore anyway. Its tough to get around for groceries and such without a car in this city. The bus system is not reliable.

You've clearly had a bad experience then. I have multiple friends that live on the east end of Patterson Park (which many claim as shady) and have had zero issues. And if you desire to not live that close to Hopkins (and I don't blame anybody for that) but still want to live in the city, there are great alternatives such as Federal Hill, Mt. Vernon near the harbor, or even as far as Roland Park. Towson is a bit of an extreme, but absolutely a very clean and nice burb.

And where were you living when they found the body?