Originally Posted by Uke

IMO the easiest way to recognize an area where you might be more likely to encounter a street altercation is street activity. If you see people hanging out on corners, alleys, parks and storefronts you know that you're in a place where minds are idle. Without any specific place to go, most people are thinking up ways to either entertain themselves or to make money.

I agree with Mike Brewer to a degree. What he described are basically ethnic urban areas. Once you factor in the liquor stores and such it has to be lower income housing because middle to upper class home owners would never allow the development of such things because it would depreciate their own property.

So to make it simple and plain:

1)People congregating in the streeets once the sun goes down.

2)Abundance of After Hour places where alcohol is served: clubs and bars

3)Development of liquor stores, pawn shops and gun stores ... all of which IMO promote crime in a given area. Liquor stores fuel tempers and diminish inhibitions. Pawn shops encourage theft and muggings. Gun stores provide tools to many people who intend to commit crimes, and many stores conduct "under the table" deals. Areas developed this way are always ethnic and always poor. Middle to Upper middle class would NEVER allow their area to be developed that way as it would dramatically effect their property values. The people who live in these areas almost NEVER own these businesses, and are mostly low income. POOR=CRIME. Its just that simple.

4)Gangs. Once you start seeing a group that is dressing similarly, especially colorwise, you're in a place where violence could escalate at any minute. It doesn't have to be any one group either. Whites, Blacks, Spanish, Asians ...they all have gangs. From bikers to crips and bloods, to Latin Kings to Triads, there are gangs everywhere in America now. Just be aware of that fact. The crazy part is that upper-class kids are starting to view gangs as something 'cool" and fun to do. Its everywhere whether some of you have seen and experienced it or not.

Bars on windows? Well, that usually implies home invasions more than street altercations. A place where I live, Jamaica Estates, is a very wealthy neighborhood with million dollar houses. There are very few street altercations compared to how many robberies there are.