Despite a downturn in crime over the past few years, thefts, purse-snatchings, muggings, and burglaries are still all-too-common in Guangzhou. Reported crime rates have fallen from a peak of 140,000-a-year in 2000, as city officials and the police force put into effect an array of new measures, such as banning motorbikes, increasing the number of police at the train stations, and organizing neighborhood undercover units. Yet despite these and other crime-stopping efforts, offenses in Guangzhou, a city of 8 to 10 million, still topped 50,000-a-year in 2008.

Naturally, some criminals and gangs have simply moved or changed targets. For example, some of the crimes that used to occur on major central streets have now started to occur on the smaller ones. Motorcycle gangs may have been struck a serious blow, but burglaries are up. So residents of Guangzhou still ought to seriously consider safety in terms of where they go and when.

So which areas are worst affected, and what can you do to stay out of danger?

Train and bus stations: Police are aiming to increase their presence at Guangzhou's major terminals from about one-in-a-thousand (circa 2005) to about one-in-three-hundred, but the sheer number of people at the big stations make them impossible to police perfectly. Like any other crowded area, pay close attention to your bags and be aware of what people close to you are doing. Never go with random people claiming to be cabbies. And apply caution even at smaller terminals.

Buses and trains: These are prime places to have your pocket picked or your bag rifled through. If you have a knapsack style bag, don't wear it on your back or you're asking to get robbed. If you wear it slung on your side, make sure the zippers are facing forward where you can see them. Bags made of softer materials can easily be slashed with a razor.

The crowd that forms on entering a bus makes it a particularly vulnerable time, since everyone is close together and facing forward. This is a time when many thieves strike. You are likely thinking more about entering the bus, or getting out your card, than paying attention to your pockets. And the thief can make an easy getaway.

Outdoor barbecues: Though banned in the city center, outdoor barbecues can be loud and boisterous by nine in the evening, and turn violent by eleven. Most of the people are not hardened criminals, but bored teenagers drinking and looking for trouble. Previously, I lived across the street from such a barbecue venue in the Huadu district, and heard screaming nearly every night. Once there was what appeared to be a full-on gang fight.

The average passer-by is typically not attacked, but the kind of crowd that hangs out here late at night sometimes tries to provoke people. Most of the time, you can stay safe just by ignoring them. If you are eating at one of these barbecues, you can be sure that once the bottles start to fly against the wall, it’s time to leave.

Apartments: There is a reason why nearly all apartments have a guarded gatehouse and many have bars on the window. Burglary is prevalent, and electronic security systems are still not that common. If you ask around and find out your neighborhood has problems with break-ins, then it is worth investing in bars and a deadbolt if you don't already have them. Living on the top floor is not necessarily a way to avoid this, as thieves can, and do, go to the roof and then enter through a window.

Hotels: Even four-star hotels have their problems with robbery, despite the guards, cameras and security systems. Some of these are actually inside jobs, which could leave you waking up in the morning missing your valuables, despite being certain you'd locked the door. Leaving valuables in the hotel lock box can help with this, although lock boxes get struck by insiders as well. 

One tip, if the doorlock involves entering a code, is to wipe it down after you use it, or quickly push all of the keys. This way someone coming along later can't tell which buttons you pushed to enter the room. If you don't mind a more primitive approach, simply leaving heavy bags against the inside of the door will force anyone entering to make at least a little noise.

Shopping Areas: Any crowded shopping area puts the pedestrian at risk, especially if their attention is on the shops. They also attract scam artists who sell absolute junk. Beijing Road for example, though hardly a rough neighborhood, has plenty of these types who attempt to sell you things that they store in their jackets. Cellphones are particularly common. Do not do business with such “salespeople” unless you like losing your money.

It’s nevertheless worth noting that most thieves in China are non-violent. In fact, some are more afraid of you than you are of them. Nevertheless, Guangzhou has known its share of violent crime, including beatings that leave their victims in the hospital. While some analysts have predicted a Guangdong crime wave due to the current recession and an estimated 20 million lost jobs, so far Guangzhou has seen little or nothing of it, with the majority of crimes continuing to decrease. However, it still pays to treat living in this city with caution.

Here are the results of a 2007 report showing the most crime-stricken streets and townships in Guangzhou. The districts most popular with tourists and expats are listed first:

Fengyang street, Haizhu district; Tianhenan street, Tianhe district; Tangxia street, Tianhe district; Shimu street, Panyu district; Shiqiao street, Panyu district; Shiweitang street, Liwan district; Qiaozhong street, Liwan district; Kuangquan street, Yuexiu district; Dengfeng street, Yuexiu district; Tangjing street, Baiyun district; Jingxi street, Baiyun district; Shijing street, Baiyun district; Shiling street, Huadu district; Xinhua street, Huadu district; Jiangpu street, Conghua district; Nansha street, Nansha district; Jiulong town, Luogang district; Nangang street, Huangpu district; Shitan town, Zengcheng district; Xintang town, Zengcheng district

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