HOUSTON – A Local 2 Investigates' analysis of Houston crime numbers is revealing certain Houston neighborhoods experienced much larger number of crimes last year than most neighborhoods.
Using crime data released by the Houston Police Department, Local 2 discovered the Sharpstown area had more total crimes than any other area of Houston in 2013.
Sharpstown is a sprawling neighborhood centered around the Southwest Freeway and Bellaire Boulevard. According to 2013 HPD statistics, Sharpstown had 502 burglaries, 256 robberies and 252 stolen cars.
"We've been broken into actually twice," said Charlie Lojo, a Sharpstown homeowner. "Now it seems like when you back out of your driveway, it's like OK is there anybody watching?"
Houston City Council Member Mike Laster says Sharpstown's high crime numbers are deceiving. Laster, who lives in Sharpstown, says 9,000 people pack each square mile in the area with many large apartment complexes. Laster says that's about three times more people per mile than most other Houston neighborhoods. More people, means more crime, Laster says.
"Sharpstown/Southwest Houston is no more crime ridden than other parts of the city," Laster said. "If fact, some other parts of the city with much less population have much more per capita crime."
When it comes to aggravated assaults, Local 2 Investigates discovered the Third Ward had the most, with 167 in 2013.
"At one time, I'd walk the walking trail or I'd walk to church," said Guyneph Williams, who lives in Third Ward. "I can't do that now at night because I'm afraid someone may want to attack me."
Other "hot spots" for aggravated assault include:
*The area HPD labels Westwood South -- near Bissonnet and Club Creek Dr. in far southwest Houston.
*The Kashmere neighborhood -- near the 610 North Loop and 59 Eastex Freeway.
When it comes to robbery, Sharpstown had the most, followed by what's labeled the Ranchester area, which includes Chinatown near the Westpark Tollway and South Gessner.
Two neighborhoods joined Sharpstown as "hot spots" for burglary:
*The area HPD labels Walnut Bend -- on Houston's west side near Westheimer and Wilcrest.
*The neighborhood around Dow Park -- near Hobby Airport.
Local 2 Investigates also checked which neighborhoods had more car and truck thefts.
The areas with the highest numbers for that crime were:
*Almeda Genoa, Almeda Mall
*Sharpstown
*Greenspoint
