Is Los Angeles Still Dangerous
As we approach the end of this year, it is important to take stock of how safe or unsafe our city is. While things have been relatively calm in comparison to past years, that does not make us any less at risk for an emergency.
In fact, when compared with 10 years ago, there are more potential dangers in LA. With natural disasters becoming increasingly common, water issues escalating, and traffic getting worse every day, you need to be aware of what areas of town are still vulnerable.
This article will list some types of emergencies that can occur anywhere in the city, as well as some safety tips for each. Stay vigilant by using your senses and practicing personal preparedness.
Never hesitate to ask for help if you think something may be out of place! Hopefully these pages will inspire you to prepare for life in the urban jungle that is Los Angeles.
There are certain neighborhoods that are still dangerous
Certain parts of LA remain unsafe, even for experienced travelers. These include some areas in South LA, Venice, portions of Hollywood, Pacific Beach, and beach towns such as Malibu and Santa Monica.
These locations can be very expensive to visit if you do not take precautions. Luckily, there are ways to stay safe while exploring these areas.
You should always keep an eye out for suspicious or aggressive people or groups. If something looks off, get away quickly!
Never let your guard down when walking around anywhere so make sure everything is locked up and you know where your belongings are.
Many hotels have night safety programs that consist of having staff walk guests to their room after check-out time. This helps ensure that anyone who stays at the hotel is okay and does not need help finding transportation home.
More information about staying safe in various parts of LA can be found here.
Keep your wits about you at all times
It seems like every day we are reading or hearing about another crime in our city. Whether it is a shooting, car theft, robbery, or assault, it has become too common to make people worry.
Many people have made the claim that there is always at least one more “yes” than “no” person walking around this city. This doesn't seem very serious until you remember what they're answering with!
Most of these crimes happen within a few blocks of where you live. If something happens next door to you, how safe will you feel going out for an evening stroll?
We can be proactive in avoiding potential danger by staying aware of what's happening around us. We should never assume anything but instead always be on alert. This way, we won't need to expend much energy keeping ourselves protected.
There are many ways to stay informed about recent developments in your area. Online communities, social media, newspapers, and magazines are some good sources. You may also choose to follow or listen to certain individuals on YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter.
By being aware of what's occurring around you, you'll know just who needs help and when.
Don’t go to or come from certain locations
Due to the recent earthquake and massive fire, many people have been told not to travel in or out of several areas. These include skid row, downtown L.A., Venice beach, as well as some parts of Beverly Hills and Pacific Palisades.
While these are very important restrictions, they are only for limited times. You should still be able to get home when this is over!
If you live close by, you can use public transportation which has already resumed normal operations. If you do need to drive, there are ways to stay safe while doing so.
Don’t head directly towards the affected area unless you have to. Instead, try using side streets to avoid traffic. Also make sure your car is winterized and ready to roll at all time. Check under your vehicle hood and test your heater and defroster to see it works properly.
Use your common sense
With all of that said, however, you do need to use some common sense when navigating through LA. You should be aware of how safe or unsafe areas are for people around you and what types of environments are conducive to safety.
It is very important to understand that not every area within this city will feel like a bustling paradise in terms of safety. Some parts of town may actually feel more dangerous than others. This can make it difficult to know which parts of the city to spend time in and which ones to avoid.
That being said, there are several things that you can do to help mitigate risk and ensure your safety while exploring the city. Here are our top five tips.
There are things you can do to feel safer
While some parts of LA may seem like a dangerous place, there are many strategies and tips that can help make it more comfortable for you to live here.
You should not fear coming into the city because of its reputation as a major metropolitan area with lots of activity.
There is an assumption in this perception that since people come here to enjoy their lives then we have to accept that they will be exposed to potentially harmful situations or experiences.
This isn't always true, however. It's easy to avoid potential risks by understanding them and how to stay safe while still living here.
Certain neighborhoods in our city have a bad name due to unfortunate events that happened there. These incidents tend to get exaggerated and blown out of proportion through social media and word-of-mouth.
Most importantly, people who were involved in these incidents usually don’t take responsibility for what they did. They blame everything and everyone else instead.
Stay aware of your surroundings at all times
With so many things going on around you, it can be hard to focus in on what is happening for too long- especially with most people staying busy working, hanging out, or both. This is why there are only occasional lulls when everything seems calm.
When these lulls occur, stay vigilant! You should always keep an eye on your surrounding area and potential dangers. Are there any suspicious looking people around? If yes, keep walking until you notice them leaving.
Is there anything seemingly out of place or that doesn’t seem quite right? Double check by taking note if they have back up items and if they appear nervous. Don’t let distractions get in the way of early detection and safety!
We live in such a constantly connected society now that it is easy to fall into a sleep mode where nothing is occurring, but still be able to know about every little thing that happens. Make use of this tool to help keep yourself safe.
And don’t forget to practice personal self-care as well; we talk about that here on our site often. That includes things like doing exercises, grooming (looking presentable), and making sure to eat enough to meet your nutritional needs.
Never hesitate to ask for help either! There are lots of resources available to us nowadays, from phone apps, to chat groups, to organized events.
Don’t wear your valuables around your neck
Many people still believe that walking through busy areas of LA is dangerous, and so they keep their belongings close to them at all times. This can be expensive if you happen to have jewelry or other valuable items on you.
Fortunately, there are some ways to avoid this by investing in good safety gear. There are even apps that can help alert you when someone nearby goes beyond their normal behavior.
It's important to remember that although it may feel safe now, parts of town can get very crowded late at night. More than half of all robberies occur between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m., with over 70% happening within one mile of where you live.
If you're going out for the evening, stay somewhere well-known until you reach your destination and then find a place to park for the rest of the trip. Take an easy bus or train route instead of traveling alone in a vehicle.
Be aware of your surroundings and those around you
While most parts of LA have become relatively safe for people who live or work here, that doesn’t mean things are always calm and peaceful.
Thieves roam the streets looking to snatch belongings from unsuspecting victims, and violent confrontations with suspects are common. Even if there is no threat of violence, crime can still be very expensive.
If something seems off about someone, don’t trust them. If possible, keep an eye on each other and try not to let accidents happen.
Be careful getting into your car, walking home at night, and staying in well-lit areas during late hours. Don’t assume that just because it's nighttime, everything will get better soon - it may never!
Crime happens everywhere, but some neighborhoods are more prone than others. It’s important to know which places are unsafe and stay away from them, even if you feel like you're safer elsewhere.