Crime in Erie,PA

Don’t know if I have anything worthwhile to add to this topic of concern but felt it necessary to comment of the plethora of news stories about increasing violent crime in the city.  As “they” say when something hits your  life then all of a sudden it is important. Well, crime is encroaching on my home and neighborhood.  Another home invasion, this one apparently done in error, happened yesterday only blocks from my home.  We have lived here for thirty three years in this old house and have been aware that urban living carries with it a different kind of awareness than where I grew up in the county.  I always lock my doors when I go out to garden or even check the mail.  You look around you and note anything that may seem “not quite right” when taking a stroll down the bayfront promenade or along the tree lined streets of the inner city. I carry a whistle, at times a cell phone, and my keys at all times and now a germanweiler [a german shepherd rottweiler mix ] puppy accompanies me where ever I go. I do not know if I ever really felt safe living here but until now I wrote it off as a result of growing up in the county where you needn’t lock your doors, be hypervigilant, or watch how you speak or even make eye contact with passersby.  I find this incredibly sad that this society has come to this.  We have several nice neighbors who own their homes and value the neighborhood. We look out for each other. We make landlords aware of problem tenants and suspicious activity.  We treat others with the respect that we would appreciate being extended to us.  Moving out may some times be the answer. I cannot say I blame the parents of those college students who suffered the erroneous home invasion for packing up their daughters and moving them that same day!  But it does seem that crime is pervasive and sooner or later it will strike your area as well. Suburbia is not excluded and for some reasons makes an even more attractive target for some criminals[isolation, more expensive loot, etc] . I really do not want to see us disintegrate into a wild west gun-toting, it -is- me- or- you type of environment. What kind of quality of Life is that?  I do not have the answers for all the problems that appear to be contributing to this decline of our moral compass. I just wanted to voice my fear, anger and yes, disgust with this situation.