Bad neighborhoods, Miami Beach

When I was looking at this beautiful harbor and listening the music, a man, behind me, was searching in the pocket of my trousers.

What did he want to steal me : my portofolio or the brochure of my camera I had really in my pocket.

When I am abroad, my cash and my visa are in the internal pocket of a vest.

My parents where shot and killed in Miami. I will never walk again. I thought I'd pop in here and add this comment. The nightmare for me never ends.I saved up for years to take my parents on a vacation.I took them to Miami for the beaches and sun.It was nothing we dreamed it to be.It was a huge urban metropolis with worse traffic than id ever seen.The city was very dirty all over, including the beaches.People where either rude and aggressive or they begged for money. We had no idea we needed to learn spanish or haitian to get some respect. My advise would be to stay out of Miami.You should'nt have to give up your life to go on vacation.

My Husband was in Miami on business.I was told by authorities that He was in Miami for not even an hour when he was robbed and shot to death.Parts of his body were found two weeks later behind an abandoned warehouse in a dufflebag.The rest is still missing.I heard Miami was bad through the media and freinds, but I never imagined how brutal the locals can be.No one should visit that awful city but if you have to please take extra percautions.His killers are still on the streets.Judging by the crime rates down there.they are not the only killers loose on the streets in Miami.

Miami is A city with tricks up her sleeve.Honestly There is no safe place in Miami.I came here at the age of five from Colombia.Living in Miami trust me Ive seen it all.With all the dangers of this city I am lucky to be alive.Still I have plenty of war scars to proove that I am a true Miami native.I grew up in the sections of goulds and allapattah.Any tourists that wanders off and gets lost in areas like those will most likely go back home in body bags.This is not a joke nor a game folks.I am an active voulenteer,stuggling to try and make Miami a safer place by going to the schools and preaching our youth about gang violence and anger management issues.Sadley i see so many of them dieing every day.I care for our residents as well as the visitors.Please if you deside to visit dont act like a tourist.If you are not black or hispanic you will stand out like a sore thumb.Just being white is a sure sign that you are a tourist.If you are white just make sure that you are extra carful.Here are some important safety tips.carry travelers check only.If you must carry cash,carry it in your shoe.Never I repeat never carry cash in your back pocket.It is a dead give away that you are a tourist.Remember the mentality in Miami is a freindly person is a weak person and a weak person in Miami is a dead person.So please people use commin sence and protect your selves and the image of our city.Help us save lives and try to prevent this ugly cycle of tourist murders in our city !!!!

I have traveled to many places in the united states and around the world.By far Miami is the most dangerous city in the united states and among the most dangerous in the world.only comparing to bagdad cuba colombia and haiti.Miami makes new york seem like mister rogers neighboorhood.There are many reasons why Miami is so dangerous most people in Miami are from all kinds of different third world countries for example cuban colombia and hatie are just a few.As we know from the based on a true story movie scarface that in 1980 castro emptied out his cuban prisons to Miami.Another fact is Miami is the poorest big city in the nation as far as the income of people that live there yet at the same time it is one of the most expensive cities to live in the nation.most of the areas and cities of the Miami area are down right ugly violent and scary. one example of many cities in Miami is opa locka it has the highest violent crime rate in the united states.use the webl these are facts.There are many police on the streets of south beach you would think there is a riot going on. that alone tells you something about the out of control crime.But those police officers are there to protect tourists.Sure south beach is sketchy prostitution drugs gangs homless all over but its not nearly as bad as the rest of Miami.I would strongly recomend staying in the touristy area of south beach and not wounder off in the rest of Miami if you value your life.I am not trying to talk bad about Miami but lets face it Miami has had a bad reputation for crime and violence from day one.Still its all worth the visit.no city in the world has such much energy excitement and multi culture not to mention the cuban coffee. never carry cash or jewelry,watch your surroundings at all times if you get bumped from behind in your car dont stop until you find a police station or officer,and never go outside of the touristy areas you dont want to see the real Miami neighborhoods unless you have a gun.

With all the fun and energy, you still have to remember, South Beach is part of Miami, a city that has had its share of crime. In July 2003 I was walking back around 5AM from some girls hotel on 16th to mine on 5th and the police were roping off an area where 2 guys had just been shot. It made me think what if, and I've cabbed it ever since if I'm out that late. If you do run into trouble, there are two police stations, one on the beach and one a couple blocks in, help is just 3 digits away.

Just a block or two away from Ocean Blvd is Washington and Collins - each a bit scarier than the next at night.
During the evening the underbelly of the city comes out. Drug dealers and a few professional women. I've seen worse, but it is to be expected in a large metropolitan area.
Just be sure to travel in a group, take a cab through some of the areas and don't be stupid.
AKA walking 10 blocks while drunk as a skunk being alone and 22 year old woman...
Be smart and safe and aware as you would in downtown Manhatten.

South Beach is pretty safe. You can walk around alone, even at night and nothing happens to you. I have to warn you girls and women out there though: stay in the main crowded streets at night if you are walking by yourself and it is late, as there have been a few women who have disappeared in the last year. If you have to leave the main streets to go to your hotel, jump in a cab.... a few bucks well spent!

Like I said, it is safe so don't freak out, but do take a few precautions and realize that these things happen, just as anywhere else I guess.

The City Was Great, but without doubt parts of it were crime-ridden. Even areas near the beaches had their fare share of crimes. Keep alert!