Afraid to move to Chicago! Is it as unsafe as I think?

[corianne2003]

My husband and I are relocating to Chicago for his new job. I'm from a small farm town where nothing criminal EVER happens. I could leave a stack of cash in my car with the doors unlocked and it wouldn't be bothered. I keep reading about muggings and attacks and robberies. I'm scared to death something like that will happen to me. I'm a young, fairly good-looking white female. I feel like a wid-open target for some thug to rob or rape. We will probably be moving to the Wrigleyville/Lincoln Park/Ravenswood area. Somewhere north. However, the apartment buildings we've looked at have these huge courtyards and street parking. People could be lurking anywhere at night. Is there anyone who can ease my worries? Or am I just being paranoid and watching too much tv?

[triton]

I live in Chicagoland and pretty much all of the west and south sides of Chicago proper are very crime ridden; in some neighborhoods, they'll shoot you for your bicycle! If you like large cities, changing seasons, etc, your safest and best bet would be New York City.

[CityDataForumSux]

The northside can be pleasant, but large poverty swaths on the south and west sides. how ever even the south side has a few gems

[triton]

Also, Illinoisans are very rude and very unsociable people. And it is even worse in the suburbs, especially DuPage County, where locals are known to complain on anyone who even so much as rides through on a bicycle.