In an unusual advisory, the Anchorage Police Department on Tuesday warned residents of the city not to travel alone at night in "isolated areas," days after an as-yet-unsolved double homicide occurred in a park along a popular trail.
In the statement, police asked citizens "to be cautious" late at night, "especially if they are in isolated areas like our parks, bike trails or unoccupied streets."
"If you do plan to be out late at night, make sure you travel with several friends and not alone," the statement said.
Police did not offer a specific reason why people should not travel late at night alone, other than saying that "criminal activity often increases late at night." The caution came after a wave of homicides in the city, including several unsolved killings. The FBI confirmed Tuesday that they were assisting APD in investigating some of those cases.
I am not going to lie to you, there has always been an element of danger in this city even back when I was a kid.
For a relatively small population in the state we have had far more than our fair share of serial killers:
No state in the country has a higher rate of serial murders than Alaska. As was the case in most other states, serial killers in Alaska claimed more victims in the 1980s than in any other decade. Robert Hansen, perhaps the most prolific serial killer in the state’s history, was sentenced to 461 years of prison in 1984 after confessing to the particularly gruesome murders 17 women. More than half of the 51 serial murders that occurred in Alaska took place between 1980 and 1990. Not only does Alaska have a higher incidence of serial killings than any other state, it also has the highest violent crime rate in the country.
And of course the majority of them lived in or around Anchorage.
We also have an extreme number of regular homicides, rapes, and assaults, many of them related to alcohol abuse.
This year alone we have already had over twenty murders, with four months left to go.
Yes the state is gorgeous, but it can also be deadly. And despite what you might hear the grizzly bears are NOT the most dangerous predators.
When you grow up here you quickly learn the rules. When and where you will be the most safe, where you should avoid going alone, and at what times of the night the city becomes the least safe.
Now I would not suggest that tourists need to stay away completely.
Most of the city is quite safe and right now breathtakingly beautiful.
However if I were a tourist I would ask about any dangerous places to avoid (Fairview, Mountain View, and Spenard, for a start.) and at what times it is best to avoid going on walks along the bike paths or in the parks.
Now you know why I tell people that this is the best place in the world to live, IF you can survive.
Alaska is a great place but anchorage is a nasty city in many ways. I choose valley. People say crime is bad here but really, matsu isn't different from any other city. Except the few that mirror pleasantville.
ReplyDeleteBut now you kind of understand why Sarah's parents told her Todd had to go with her to anchorage the first time she drove there.
you mean peasantville?
DeleteMaybe the Palin family vigilante gang can go and patrol the city parks at night. That would assure the locals that everything is going to be just fine.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
Right you are. Why doesn't Duhkota line up some of his Never Outgunned friends . . . no doubt they could clean up the place in short order.
DeleteJust let a drunken Track wander around late at night with his guns, the streets will be deserted.
Deleteor go wake up the Natives and see what happens to you...giggle...live entertainment for dumbfuck and company eh Redneck? hahaha
DeleteIt's always been my impression that a homeless person in Anchorage has a better chance of a coffin lid than a roof over their head.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately that's true in most parts of the country. This summer a pair of young ruffians (not homeless) have been preying on the homeless. At least one victim ended up in the hospital with fairly serious injuries.
DeleteBeaglemom
and yet locally and nationally how many empty office/business buildings sit empty? no business could care less I know and well they will pay for it by being an asshole!
DeleteWhat, no Gryphen story about how you ninja'd yourself out of a serial killers hands, or how you saved a bunch of tourist from a murderer outside your favorite striplclub. You're slipping, used to be you never missed an opportunity to tell your followers how great you are.
ReplyDeleteYou do realize that only twelve year old boys think that everybody who practices martial arts is a ninja, right?
DeleteTheir brown belt is for a different reason, and no they don't realize.
Deletebrown belt...hahahahhahahahhahahahhaha
DeleteMy daughter goes to school down there, and I get cancer check ups at Alaska Native Medical Center each year. Was down there last summer, and all was well with my bloodworks. But there was a spike in my sugar so I decided to to walk from the hospital to where my daughter lived. Bragaw and Dabarr. It was a traffic noisy walk. I cut across the park. My daughter warned me that someone had been assaulted on the overpass. It was noon. People were nice when I asked for directions. But you won't catch me doing that when there's no one around. There's always that one psycho who will see an opportunity. My aunt lived in Anchorage in Mountain View for over fifty years. She said it's all who you hang out with, and where. I live with all her advice about the big city here in Fairbanks.
ReplyDeleteAnd just when did this rash of murders start? Before or after Duhkota Meyer started traveling to Alaska?
ReplyDeleteThe Mat Su Valley is really no safer than Anchorage. The rate of major theft, B&E's, and home invasions there is astronomical. Home invasion comes with the possibility of death to the occupant. The rate of arrest for serious crime is extremely low. The rate of conviction even lower.
ReplyDeleteThen there is the deranged palin KKKLAN...
Yikes... careful, Gryph...dangers for those who speak the truth. AK's crime stats are unreal for our population. This is only "reported" crimes of course, but it gives you an idea. You can also sign up for alerts:https://www.raidsonline.com/
ReplyDeleteThat rugged frontiersman mentality the worst type of Alaskan is so in love with attracts and produces addicts, rageaholics and general social misfits.
ReplyDeleteWow. Went on the Google and I see that Alaska is in the top ten for violent crime. I also see that my State of Maine is #50 for violent crime. It might be quite a culture to travel up to Alaska. It is on my bucket list however. I have been to all 48 states down here, but never to Alaska.
ReplyDeleteAh! That is nonsense! Most tourists that make the journey up here are recognized by locals and they will the first to intervene with the 'trash' that you might stumble upon in Alaska!
DeleteSouth Addition has more murders than Fairview this year I am pretty sure.
ReplyDelete