Fun Facts about Downtown Raleigh
November 14, 2007
I would like to begin by saying I have never really felt unsafe in downtown Raleigh. Recently, I had my 94 Firebird (awww yeah!) broken into right outside my place of work. To set the scene let me tell you what was in my car: a pair of broken flip flops, maps, one cd, a jug of water in case my radiator gets thirsty, a small notebook to record my mileage when I fill up cause the gas tank meter is a little off, and a pen. In summary, nothing of value. Between the hours 5 and 7 pm someone smashed my passenger window in an attempt to steal my Clarion stereo- wait, what do you mean you’ve never heard of that brand??? They destroyed my stereo, but dropped it in the adjacent parking lot. So they got nothing and I got I broken window and a bum stereo. The police were called and responded very quickly and then City/County Bureau of Identification (CCBI) came to take prints off the Bird. This is when a learned a few fun facts.
1. More and more crimes are being linked through palm prints these days than fingerprints. CCBI took fingerprints, but also palm prints. They are using a new product called SPEX that they love.
2. My workplace is located smack in the middle of a hot spot. (I was shocked too. Maybe I should feel unsafe in downtown Raleigh.) I took the liberty of mapping the areas of danger that were very kindly pointed out to me. The northwest is a homicide area. Scary. ‘Undesirables’ populate the northeast. Scary? No clarification was provided on this point. There are not ONE, but TWO combat zones. One to the west and one to the south. These are areas of ongoing turmoil including drugs and prostitution. I’ve been to Ess Lounge once and I would agree that is a combat zone.
3. Do not leave your social security card and birth certificate in your car because it will be stolen if someone breaks into your car. This is something that I already knew, but since it happened to someone the same night my car was broken into I thought it was worth mentioning.
Stumble it!
Tags: , combat zone, information design, nightlife
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November 14th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
I feel the need to add to this entry, so here it goes. I was present at the time of the broken window discovery, police arrival and the CCBI arrival. Although the whole broken window/stereo event can’t really be classified as a “fun occasion” there were some note worthy/amusing tidbits worth reporting…
1. kelly’s firebird was sitting under a street lamp
2. my car, was parked directly in front of the firebird and contained in view through the windows a Wii controller, a new external hard drive, a large holly aiken bag/purse full of somewhat important paper work, a dog bed, two bags of dog food, a big box of dog treats, and several other “somethings” I haven’t managed to take out of my vehicle. My car was not harmed.
3. The CCBI dude had a silver case full of his print taking tools… It looked very official.
4. When he pulled out the tape to lift the prints he tore off pieces of it with his teeth.
5. While lifting the prints, a piece of tape tore across the middle of a set of fingerprints.
6. The last noteworthy comment, when the assailant broke into the other ladies car (and stole her Social Security Card and Birth Certificate) he decided he was thirsty and stole the Bojangles cup she had in her cup holder. The cup was found thrown to the ground… The lady had been using it to put cigarette butts into. Just a slight bit of karma
November 17th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
I too feel compelled to comment. What can you do? You are where you are, they are where they are (they, being the undesirables and the like) and its inevitable your paths will cross, proven by your recent encounter. What can you do before your paths cross again?
My 2 cents … people who feel lost make bad decisions. In my simple life, lost means driving around not knowing where i’m going. I panic that i’ve missed my turn and take the next turn available, only to find out that i panicked way too early and 3 hrs later i’m in freakin Virginia!
The people in your neighborhood wake up lost, so its one bad turn after the other. Its a very dangerous existence. So what can you do? I think your best defense in knowledge. Try to imagine their day. If you can put yourself in their shoes for a half a second maybe it will better prepare you the next time your paths cross. Think like a person who feels lost and ask yourself what will keep you from panicking?
On a more simple note:
There is always the new Lipstick Pepper Spray which comes in 5 different colors (http://www.guardian-self-defense.com/peppersprays.htm). However, if you’re like me and put your lipstick on while driving, this could be more dangerous than your neighborhood.
Take Care.