CRIME HIGHER IN AREAS WITH MOST RENTALS
Byline: By Ryan Konig, Staff writer
Want to identify Phoenix's high-crime neighborhoods? Look for those with the most renters
and fewest homeowners.
About one-fourth of city neighborhoods have more renters than owners, a study of police and census statistics finds.
Though these areas have only one-third of Phoenix's residents, they reported nearly one-half of the city's crime last year.
The study, done by the Community section of The Phoenix Gazette and The Arizona Republic, analyzed 1993 crime statistics from Phoenix police and 1990 census information.
The findings back up what neighborhood activists have been saying for years: Neighborhoods with the most renters have the most need for crime prevention and enforcement.
In a neighborhood with a lot of renters, it's more difficult for people to distinguish between a neighbor and a burglar ripping off a neighbor, activists say.
Renters move in and out of neighborhoods faster than homeowners and have less time to get involved. And, of course, neighborhoods with the most apartments often have more people -- more potential criminals and victims.
Richard Fox, Lora Lee Nye and other members of the Phoenix Block Watch Advisory Board say the solution is for homeowners to invite renters to take part in Block Watches, neighborhood cleanups and neighborhood parties.
In recent years, that has been happening.
National Night Out, Neighborhood Fight Back, Block Watch and the Phoenix Crime Free Multi-Housing Program are among programs that get renters involved.
Sometimes renters take charge.
Brenda Borquez, a renter in the Isaac Neighborhood, helped organize the Awake Now Block Watch. The group is a year old, and police statistics show that crime is going down in the neighborhood.
Sixty-three of Phoenix's 224 census tracts have more renters than owners. These neighborhoods are largely clustered in central and north-central Phoenix.
The 63 neighborhoods had:
* 30 percent of Phoenix's 1 million residents.
* 46 percent of last year's reported 106,649 homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts and drug crimes.
* 20 percent of the city's owner-occupied homes.
* 52 percent of the city's rental homes and apartments.
* An average monthly rent of $352 compared with the citywide average of $381.
* An average owner-occupied home value of $57,266 compared with the citywide average of $83,039.
Color Chart by Community (see microfilm)
Color Photo by Nancy Engebretson, Staff photographer
Type of story: Sidebar to: ''How Westwood is turning the tide
/ Renters, owners coming Crime / There were 1,944 crimes reported last year in the
one-square-mile area bounded by Indian School and Camelback roads and 19th and 27th
avenues.
Terra Villa Apartments manager Rita Cardona has instituted screening procedures that have
improved the complex's reputation.