The start of the spring semester is just around the corner, but some University of Alabama students still have one major event booked on their winter break calendar: a trip down to New Orleans for the BCS National Championship game.
Though the city is a collegiate favorite for its party scene and delicious cuisine, New Orleans is also notorious for its high crime rate. A Dec. 7 New York Times article reported that there were 51 homicides per 100,000 residents in 2010. At the date of publication, there were a total of 203 reported homicide victims – much more than the 175 homicides reported in 2010.
According to NYTimes.com, the 2010 homicide rate was 10 times the national average. For comparison, less than 7 homicides per 100,000 residents occurred in New York in the same time period.
“We’re a small city, but we have big city situations,” New Orleans Police Officer Frank Robertson said.
Robertson advised fans and visitors to implement the same common sense safety measures they would use in any other big city.
“In any major city, especially when you don’t know the city you are visiting, you’re going in with a certain awareness level,” Robertson said. “You have certain plans – travel in pairs, don’t venture off from the group, don’t venture off from the city.”
Robertson said he believed most tourists would want to stay around the French Quarter, and he warned against traveling deeper into the city.
“You probably don’t want to go out to the Ninth Ward,” he said, referring to the parish particularly ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “I don’t recommend any tourist to go there unless they’re in a vehicle. I’m not telling anyone not to venture out, but you just have to use discretion.”
A crime map linked from the City of New Orleans website, nola.gov, cites 84 reported crimes within a one mile radius of the Louisiana Superdome between Jan. 1 and Jan. 6.
According to the crimemapping.com map, no homicides were reported in the radius area, which contains most of Bourbon St. and the French Quarter. The crimes include DUIs, drug and alcohol violations, assault, vandalism and theft/larceny.
Robertson said tourists should make an effort not to stand out from the crowd.
“Our tourists want to come with big bags, cameras hanging off their necks, big jewelry,” he said. “Have a small coin purse, put it in your front pocket. Men – put your wallet in your front pocket. Or don’t even bring a wallet – bring your ID and a money fold, put it in your shoe.”
For tourists who want to bring cameras, he suggests leaving the professional equipment at home and bringing a small option that can fit in your pocket.
The city will also experience increased tourist numbers stemming from a Saints football playoff game on Saturday. With such intense competitions days apart, celebrations will be had – but Robertson urges visitors to just be smart about their revelry.
“The city is going to be very busy, very full of people. You are going to have people coming out trying to prey on those people,” he said. “Do not go into bars on Bourbon St., get wasted, then separate with your group.”
Though the city’s crime statistics may seem daunting, Robertson said it could be enjoyed as long as you use common sense safety and travel plans.
“Don’t leave your group. Get a buddy system, get everyone’s number, take a head count when you leave each place,” Robertson said. “Follow those basic tips because they’re common sense, just like you would do in Tuscaloosa.”
