It's been said that if you see women jogging in a neighborhood after dark, there's a high chance that it is a safe place. It's not a hard-and-fast rule, but rather a rough indicator of the level of safety in a particular area.
Perhaps a better way to look at it is "what are the signs that a neighborhood is potentially dangerous?"
Someone wondered this exact thing recently and decided to ask people online. The response was somewhat overwhelming, with thousands adding their personal ideas of "red flags" to the replies. While a few should be taken with a pinch of salt, others are things that you might want to pay attention to next time you're out and about.
Bored Panda has whittled down the list to a few answers that you can scroll through before you step out the door. We've also done some of our own research to find out what points to a neighborhood being less than savory. You'll find that info between the images. Don't forget to upvote the ones you agree with, and feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments section down below.
#41
You know there are a lot of poor people and d**g users around if you see any signs on poles that say “CASH FOR DIABETIC TEST STRIPS.”
For our European friends: yes, this is a real thing in the US.
For our European friends: yes, this is a real thing in the US.
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4points
#42
Iron bars on the doors and windows
If the clerk is behind bulletproof glass
If there’s a check cashing place
What’s locked up at Walmart.
If the clerk is behind bulletproof glass
If there’s a check cashing place
What’s locked up at Walmart.
3points
#44
Traveling for work and saw a first.
A post office r that was locked up like a bodega in the hood. Bulletproof glass and only accepting mail with one of those turnstile things.
Seen it in many a bodega but never a us post office location (not an ups store or anything like that).
A post office r that was locked up like a bodega in the hood. Bulletproof glass and only accepting mail with one of those turnstile things.
Seen it in many a bodega but never a us post office location (not an ups store or anything like that).
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3points
#45
Nice area - grown ups on road racing bikes wearing spandex
Opposite - grown men in street clothes on BMXs .
Opposite - grown men in street clothes on BMXs .
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3points
#46
This is applicable in South Carolina, and probably most of the American Deep-South; the higher the ratio of mopeds to cars the worse the area (unless you’re in a college town).
3points
#47
There was a neighborhood I lived near, some twenty years ago on the East Coast of the USA. If you went there at night, you'd see cars acting d**g-dealer-y: e.g., lurking in alleyways with their headlights off but their engines running. I didn't go there at night.
2points
#48
Playing dice on the sidewalk is a good indicator.
Edit: I’m speaking from experience, i grew up in the ghetto as a white kid and I was definitely the minority.
Edit: I’m speaking from experience, i grew up in the ghetto as a white kid and I was definitely the minority.
2points
#50
Fences in the front yard tells me it's a really rough area.
Although walls with a gate in the front yard tells me that they're in a tax bracket I'll never know.
Although walls with a gate in the front yard tells me that they're in a tax bracket I'll never know.
1point