10.7 Crime
Description
This article is from the soc.culture.australian FAQ, by Stephen Wales with numerous contributions by others.
10.7 Crime
* Sydney [BJ]
The crime in Sydney is often overstated. Yes, there are parts in
which it is unwise to walk alone at night. On the other hand,
allegedly dangerous areas like Kings Cross are often quite safe
because it is always crowded 24 hours a day and heavily patrolled by
Police on foot. Just don't start a fist fight there :-) Overall,
Sydney is really a very safe city for its size if you use your common
sense and avoid obvious dangers. At night, travel with someone else
if you are unsure, or at least look like you're not unsure if alone.
On trains, sit in populated carriages near the Guards Carriage
(indicated by a blue light on the side) if you're worried. Transit
Police patrol trains and this has greatly increased safety at night.
Sydney also has a chapter of the NYC "Guardian Angels" riding
nighttime trains. At train stations at night, wait in the well lit
striped areas of the platform. Major stations have 24 hour video
surveillance and large red "Emergency Help" buttons on the platforms
that immediately summons the Police should you be in trouble.
Sydney's nighttime trains are 4 carriages long, but now they lock the
first 2, so you have to sit near the guard. They've painted "Night
Safe Area" on the platforms where the unlocked carriages stop. [RA]
Buses are generally safe at any hour, and incidents on Ferries and the
Monorail are rare.
Always lock you car when leaving it, even at a petrol station, and
never leave anything on view in the car that isn't bolted down or
welded to it. Especially do not leave anything valuable, a wallet,
handbag, or spare change on view. Cars are broken into for $2 or an
umbrella (really - it happened to my wife!). Also, don't leave a
Street Directory on the seat. It looks like you're visiting an
unfamiliar area, and hence will be away from your car for some time.
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