Afraid of Vancouver!!

[OUR72GTO]

Check out the Whalley area..... I think you'll love it.

[SleepWarz]

I've found as long as your polite to people out here no matter who they are you will get along fine.

[Mayhem]

Well no offence to the people here. But I grew up in east vancouver and I've had PLENTY of experiences that verify that it is not exactly the safest place to be "if" you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Allow me to share just a few of my first hand experiences. And then I will share my 2 cents.

My first incident being held at gun point.. Took place at the intersection of Fraser & Kingsway in East Vancouver. I and my friend were approached by 3 guys, 2 with automatic pistols and one with a revolver... which he loaded 3 bullets into right infront of us.. The one who seemed to be really doped outta his mind.. Proceeded to play a game of russian roulette with MY FACE.. I survived 2 spins/3 pulls of the trigger and let's just say it wasn't my personal favorite game. They proceeded to have a physical argument over whether or not to shoot me and leave me in the alley I was dragged to.. I ended up being robbed of virtually everything from my head to my toes.... except my pants/shirt/underwear/socks.. everything else was gone. What made this incident even BETTER was that there was a cop car RIGHT next to us at the stop light there who never bothered to come see what was going on.. And with multiple guns on me.. I was not eager to take a chance that the junkie wouldn't flip out and shoot me. (I should have) but that was the choice I went with.. and I'm still here today so.

The day after this, I had a group of 5 guys try to mug me on the skytrain in broad day light in a heavily occupied train. (NOT ONE PERSON HELPED ME). ... after I had just replaced my belongings that were stolen the day prior.. (No I am not kidding). Lets just say that, after getting through the gun point incident... these UNARMED guys didn't scare me. One of them ended up with a foot in his face and a quick introduction to the floor, and the others backed off.

Gun point incident number 2. I was working an auction at vandusen botanical gardens on the west side. 2 large men in ski-masks rushed in, and I found myself with yet another hand-gun in my face.. Our "security guard" locked himself in a back room alone and left us and all the customers alone in the room with the gunmen. They stole a buncha jewlery and fled the scene in a stolen vehicle.

I had a knife put to my throat in queen elizabeth park.

And I had a guy with a couple blades rob me right in broad day light at stadium skytrain station (right outside GM place).

Same skytrain station one night after a late night @ my college.. I was chased to the station by a rather large group of guys I stumbled across who were blazing in an alley. (One pulled a knife) and I ran. (2 blocks).. they chased me right down into the station and I lucked out and the train doors shut b4 they could get on.

You guys can say the media is blowing things out of proportion all you want but this stuff is real. The killings in the news are REAL.. and although the bacon brothers, the red scorpions, the independent soldiers and the hells angels get a lot of glorified media attention.... its no reason to shrug it off as not being a reality for some of us.

We've had our truck broken into a good half dozen times in the main street area.

I've had people break into our shed out here in Surrey where I now reside, and I've had people attempt to break into my place in Vancouver (while I was home).

I also had a guy drive his car into my neighbors house a block off of main and he was chased down by police and tackled in my back yard.

Highschool.... Our school had a few incidents involving guns or stabbings while I was there. A friend of mine had 3 guys with big locks on the end of chains... bludgeon him in the head in the main foyer of the school...and a year after I left, a kid was murdered (stomped to death).

I'm only 28 and this is just a portion of what I have seen first hand. And I'm not even out there looking for trouble. And I won't even get started on what I know has happened to people I know personally. (Some are not fortunate enough to be alive to tell their stories.).

As for area's in particular... Don't hang out on hastings street ? Main and hastings is notorious for prostitutes and junkies. Whalley is the laughing stock of the lower mainland... sketchy / dirty / dangerous and the brunt end of LOTS of jokes. Don't hang out in downtown alley's where you are out of sight and out of light... The busy area's are soooo busy that you're pretty damn safe no matter how late it is. Robson/granville/burrard etc... the major shopping touristy area's. And in main streets defence.. it's now been taken over by a buncha yuppies and trendy types... much less intimidating than it used to be.

Surrey is bizarre because you can be in a really safe neighborhood with great houses clean everything , go a few blocks and its the exact opposite... Surrey really depends what area you're in.

Skytrains attract muggers/gropers/thugs. its a free ride with lots of potential victims.. That said... I've used the train thousandssss of times... and only really had a small handful of incidents... I don't hesitate to take the train. For the most part in occupied public places you're perfectly safe.. No more risk of a violent crime than getting run over in a cross walk.

However I wouldn't want to live near a train station.

MOST of the violent crimes out here sensationalized in the media lately has been Gang on Gang violence. "TARGETED" organized crime. if you aren't apart of it.. it's not going to waste it's time on you.

I wouldn't consider it any scarier to be out in Vancouver than any other place. And for what it's worth, "I seem to be" one of the ones with just really bad luck... as a lot of people I know haven't encountered nearly as much nonsense as I have.

To be real? The drivers are the scariest thing on the streets. If you can survive the driving. You'll be fine.

I don't leave my Camaro in certain area's unattended... but for the most part... you shouldn't need to worry as long as you aren't going to stupid places... You'll know if you're in a bad area by the people around that area.... Most places are pretty safe in general. If you see a buncha unattended nice cars... You're probably okay parking there. Just watch out for door dings in parking lots. (or the classic hit & run parker)

Had our pickup truck get driven into while we were inside the grocery store for.... 15 minutes? no note, nothing.. just a nice big dent/scrape in the side of the truck. And I've seen plenty of incidents where people back into a car and then take off. (I always park really far away if its the camaro... I don't take chances) In the city ? I'll say I haven't left the Camaro anywhere long enough to watch a movie or eat a dinner. I take a different vehicle if I'm staying anywhere long. lol. But I admit that's a paranoid excessive behavior.

[Mayhem]

For the record.. I love Vancouver.
And I can't wait to move back in from out here in South Surrey / North Delta.

I do feel safe out there for the most part. I just know which area's to stay out of late night now

$$$ wise... It's no joke right now though. I will not be affording a place in Vancouver anytime soon.

[sen10l]

Thanks Mayhem. I hear stories similar to yours, albeit without the muggings. Pretty much regardless of how much negative stuff they say though they still prefer it in Vancouver if they can get a good job. Go figure.

I think Vancouver is probably the most beautiful city in the world, I just hate the crime there, and the cost of property. Damn speculators!

[SleepWarz]

Wow mayhem, thts some bad luck.

3 areas to avoid if you really need to.

Surrey, Langley, and east van.

[Avalnch]

Originally Posted by sen10l

No, it's not just "one" expert. I hear that from other people who have moved there or moved from there. They say it's quite common for people to be selling drugs in schools.

Despite what they say though, they still prefer to live in Vancouver.

This is not a fight. I'm looking for real-life information - a balanced viewpoint. Rather than being defensive, how about talking about your real-life experiences? I'm sure there are good and bad neighbourhoods - how about letting me know which are the good neighbourhoods and which are the bad? I'd be very appreciative!

For me the biggest problem is money. The really good neighbourhoods cost at least $200,000 more than my house. And then when I move there I'm going to take a pay cut and pay more tax. And then with the rate of housing price growth, I'm not sure if I can keep up. So I have to consider living in a neighbourhood that is perhaps not equivalent to the one I'm living in right now - hence my concern about crime.

Thanks all!

If you're moving here from Alberta, you better be ready for the sticker shock on every damn thing you buy. Now that we are going to have the HST, add 7% onto everything from restaurant food to a round of golf.

If I were in your shoes and taking a (substantial) pay cut to live here, I'd be more worried about losing my home if I get laid off than about a dighn in my car (even the Camaro).

I've always considered living in Vancouver a life style choice more than a financially sound choice (much like the Camaro). Who in their right mind would pay the highest house prices in the world and highest taxes too? But, if you can afford it, there's not better place to live. Every person from around the country and world that I've talked to comment on how nice it is here. Where else can you live and expierence all the world's terrain and weather within a couple of hours drive of where you live?

As for living in a "better" neighbourhood, you will have to pay for it. Even the nice 'hoods in Surrey are getting up in price.

Then again, 5 years from now, things may be different.

Good Luck to you.

[sask-man]

Hey its a major seaport city, with a large suburban population all around it...it's like most any major city.

I dont know what you do to take a 50k paycut, but I'd like that job! Forget about owning a property out there, unless your selling from Calgary and could possibly have some cash in the bank afterwards.

No mountains, cold as hell winters, sunny and hot summers, totally flat, best ecomony in North America, Loads of jobs, super low cost of living ($400,000 will get you a really nice 3,000ft home) loads of lakes, short ski hill lineups, plates/insurance on my Camaro are $1,000 for the year, and we are lucky if we have two or three murders a year in the entire province (and most of those are jail house shankings!) Come to Saskatchewan!

[SlipKnoT]

Originally Posted by Mayhem

I and my friend were approached by 3 guys, 2 with automatic pistols and one with a revolver...

***My friend and I were.....

[SleepWarz]

Originally Posted by sask-man

Hey its a major seaport city, with a large suburban population all around it...it's like most any major city.

I dont know what you do to take a 50k paycut, but I'd like that job! Forget about owning a property out there, unless your selling from Calgary and could possibly have some cash in the bank afterwards.

No mountains, cold as hell winters, sunny and hot summers, totally flat, best ecomony in North America, Loads of jobs, super low cost of living ($400,000 will get you a really nice 3,000ft home) loads of lakes, short ski hill lineups, plates/insurance on my Camaro are $1,000 for the year, and we are lucky if we have two or three murders a year in the entire province (and most of those are jail house shankings!) Come to Saskatchewan!

Uhh no go on the land of 2 seasons....
Snowflakes and mosquitos.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by SlipKnoT

***My friend and I were.....

Congrats on sifting through week old messages and finding grammatical errors in posts that were made at 4 in the morning.....

lol... You've gotta be bored.

[SleepWarz]

LOL

No slack mayhem! =p

[SlipKnoT]

Originally Posted by Mayhem

Congrats on sifting through week old messages and finding grammatical errors in posts that were made at 4 in the morning.....

lol... You've gotta be bored.

Actually i remembered a Russel Petters scene, where some asian guy was correcting him. Thought it be funny.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by SlipKnoT

Actually i remembered a Russel Petters scene, where some asian guy was correcting him. Thought it be funny.

haha

I dig Russ but I don't think I've seen that one.. Didn't catch the reference