In short, this was our experience:

We had signed a year lease and planned on staying in Charlotte long term, but after 4 months we had moved back home up north. Within a 3 week period, beginning on New Years Eve, one of our cars had been broken into and stolen, and later, my boyfriend had been held up at gun point and robbed!

We went out to our car early in the morning only to find broken glass all over the ground and only one of our two cars were still there. Upon retrieving the stolen car from the impound lot, we found out it had been abandoned in the middle of someone's front yard and it was trashed: stuff everywhere inside, multiple things stolen (including the GPS system), broken windows and glass just all over the inside of the car. So after that event, we weren't really feeling too safe in our parking lot.

But then three weeks later, after coming home from work late, my boyfriend was mugged at gun point. Two guys rushed him from the bushes, put a gun to his head and stole his PDA and his wallet. How they didn't take the computer bag hanging on his back, I don't know, but maybe we just got lucky, if you can even say that about a situation like this one.

So those two events pretty much destroyed all sense of possible security at this apartment complex. We told the management right after both accounts, and they did get back to us quickly and were very apologetic. But after the second incident, we told management we were leaving, and not just the complex, but we were moving back home in the north. We were too shaken up, and Charlotte pretty much left us with a bad taste in our mouths. They were understanding and worked with us to help us leave without having to pay for an apartment that we weren't going to be living in. So I will say, as far as management goes, they are really understanding and are not as caught up in "policy" compared to other places, and they can act like real human beings who can understand empathy when it all comes down to it.

The inside of the apartments are great, and the best we had ever stayed in. Spacious yet cozy, clean and well maintained. So like I said, if you never want to leave your place, literally EVER, then this is a perfect place for you. But as far as safety outside of your place, it just doesn t exist. The safety patrolman that the complex hires barely comes around, and quickly drives through about once every 3 hours. Obviously he did nothing for us, so don t count on that as a security system of any kind. I have heard that the crime rate in Charlotte as a whole has been rising, but being the victim of two serious crimes within a 3 week time span has a probability of something like over a million according to the cops who dealt with our incidents.

So my advice' Don t rent from here, simply for your own personal safety. What is a home without being able to feel safe in it' But taking it one realistic step further, I would say if possible, just don t move to Charlotte. The increasing crime rate does not seem to be going down any time soon and there are way better places to live in North Carolina. Choose wisely when moving into a new place, where ever it may be, and ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS go to the local police station and ask for a police report for the area before signing a lease ANYWHERE. It s free, and it just may save you from being the victim of a serious crime.

Hope this helps!

User Responses
From: pixiechik	Date: 08/29/2008
So sad you guys had this experience. Crime in Charlotte IS going up but hopefully our new police chief will get it in control soon. To all worried about crime here: it IS legal to carry a weapon in this town. Not that it will save you in every occasion, but a permit is only $5. It's about $150 to take a carrying concealed class and get a permit for that. Our personal safety really is up to us and not management any where. The Tradition has been a good place for us for some years but we ARE aware that there are a lot of wooded areas surrounding the whole complex. There are also some areas here that could use a lot more lighting too. That said, when ever I'm out at night (especially when I have to park near wooded areas) I am always on alert and I rarely carry a purse. I usually have a backpack and I'm walking fast/trotting, not dawdling or strolling along. I would behave in this manner no matter where I live. The world is not always a nice place. As adults, it's up to us to pay attention no matter where we are. Good luck back up north.

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