Newcomer to Dublin - how safe is it?

Nostoi

Hi,

I'll be moving to the Ballsbridge area next month. I've heard a lot of things about Dublin's security - just how safe/dangerous is it? Are burglaries common in the D4 area? Is a ground floor flat safe?

Thanks all.

FensterDJ

you'll be fine

Martyn1989

Its really all common sense, don't be out walking alone, don't carry valuables, don't make eye contact with strangers. You'll pick up the lingo quick enough and they'll think your a local.

Seriously though, you've nothing to worry about.

Nostoi

Thanks. I'm not so worried about being out, more about home invasion. How likely is it in this area...?

Cool Mo D

Having your home invaded by armed criminals when you are there is incredibly rare. Normal burglary has been on the increase, so don't leave doors and windows open when the house is unoccupied.

FensterDJ

where are you moving from, honestly, you'll be fine

ciaran_h

Nostoi wrote: »

Hi,

I'll be moving to the Ballsbridge area next month. I've heard a lot of things about Dublin's security - just how safe/dangerous is it? Are burglaries common in the D4 area? Is a ground floor flat safe?

Thanks all.

Where do u live currently? I'd say you should be safe enough just keep a baseball bat under the bed

Nostoi

Nostoi wrote: »

Thanks. I'm not so worried about being out, more about home invasion. How likely is it in this area...?

Not likely at all, you are living in a very affluent area.

Nostoi

Paris.

ciaran_h wrote: »

Where do u live currently? I'd say you should be safe enough just keep a baseball bat under the bed

FloatingVoter

If you're living in an isolated cottage down the bogs, then yes, an armed invasion is a far bigger possibility.
Burglaries in Dublin are opportunistic (open doors, windows etc.) mainly. Invest in a bolt for your front door and sleep easy.

Fuinseog

Nostoi wrote: »

Hi,

I'll be moving to the Ballsbridge area next month. I've heard a lot of things about Dublin's security - just how safe/dangerous is it? Are burglaries common in the D4 area? Is a ground floor flat safe?

Thanks all.

ground floor flat a bad idea, which is why they go cheap.

John_Rambo

Fuinseog wrote: »

ground floor flat a bad idea, which is why they go cheap.

They are cheaper because they are less private. They are actually safer than houses because access is more limited. Most, if not all houses are actually "ground floor" and they usually have more entry points, so Nostoi, the usual precautions... don't leave your valuables on show and lock up properly!

face1990

Ballsbridge is a nice, affluent area.
Take the usual precautions (don't leave windows open when you're not home etc.) and you'll be fine!

Tusky

Martyn1989 wrote: »

Its really all common sense, don't be out walking alone, don't carry valuables, don't make eye contact with strangers. You'll pick up the lingo quick enough and they'll think your a local.

Seriously though, you've nothing to worry about.

Don't walk alone in Dublin? Never heard such ****e.

OP - you will be living in one of the nicest, safest areas of Dublin. You have nothing to worry about.

Marty McFly

OP considering your moving from Paris you are well used to city living and should know majority of the time you will have nothing to worry about.

Dyr

Stay close to the UN patrolled sectors obviously :P

How safe is Paris?

Nostoi

Paris is very safe, I've never had to worry at all. But I'm in a loft, with an almost impenetrable series of doors.

I'm only concerned with the ground floor situation in Dublin - the flat is accessible via some french doors from the back of the building. PVC doors. I guess I'm wondering how determined someone would have to be to hammer down the backdoor....

Bambi wrote: »

Stay close to the UN patrolled sectors obviously :P

How safe is Paris?

Keepon

Nostoi, you're in more danger of a heart attack from anxiety at this stage.

Lock your doors. Don't leave your stuff lying around. Nothing is going to happen.

Chill, man....

anto9

Ground floor flat is less secure for sure .You will need a house alarm ,for peace of mind ,which are cheap enough .Your apartment block may also have security ,for vehical entry at least .That area is probably the safest in Dublin though because of near by Embassyies and a large Police presence.

John Mason

anto9 wrote: »

Ground floor flat is less secure for sure .You will need a house alarm ,for peace of mind ,which are cheap enough .Your apartment block may also have security ,for vehical entry at least .That area is probably the safest in Dublin though because of near by Embassyies and a large Police presence.

i really dont understand a this ground floor is less safe - does that mean everyone who lives in a house ON THE GROUND floor isnt safe?

OP, seriously, you need to chill, make sure your doors are locked and you dont leave wads of cash visible from the window and you will be fine.

are you going to be a bank manager or an owner of a post office

Martyn1989

Tusky wrote: »

Don't walk alone in Dublin? Never heard such ****e.

Your a man on the edge

[Jackass]

Nostoi wrote: »

Thanks. I'm not so worried about being out, more about home invasion. How likely is it in this area...?

Nostoi, I've lived in the Ballsbridge area for nearly 30 years. My home has never been broken in to, I have never met any strange or dangerous people around there area and I have never felt the need to worry about a thing.

Dublin is a very safe city for the most part. Around the suburbs of the south side where you are staying and around the city centre it is all very safe.

Common sense is important though, don't leave doors and windows open in your house when you are not there or at night, don't walk in empty or secluded areas on your own at night or poorly lit areas with little or no foot traffic / other people - the same safety precautions that apply anywhere in the world.

The one unique problem to Dublin that you may not have encountered at home is the drink culture and how stupid drunk people are. You will only really come across the extremities of this in the city centre, and my advice would be to enjoy yourself, but avoid extremely drunk people on the street, who are slurring / talking to strangers / shouting, just because they are unpredictable.

Also, if people are drinking alcohol out of cans on the street at night, they are usually the type to be avoided also.

But enjoy Dublin, it is a very safe city, well policed and very civalised for the most part, and your area in particular is very safe.

spagboll

dublin is a safe city,

Gary The Gamer

Ballsbridge is one of the safest places going. I lived there for a while and it was a joy to take a walk around midnight on a a warm night like this. Very low burglary as well.

sharonmuch

Balsbridge is a nice place . but you know there is no place were it is 100% safe

RMD

Ballsbridge is a very safe area in a very safe city. Keep your wits about you and Dublin is a playground, many posters on here though and the Irish tabloids would like you to believe it's downtown Kabul.

19 years here, no break-ins, no muggings, no assaults. It's a lovely city.

markymark21

I don't think the gang warfare has quite hit Ballsbridge yet so I reckon you'll be grand

CianRyan

Ballsbridge is a great area, I'd love to get a place there but it's a bit out of reach.
Enjoy your new place.

amdgilmore

D4 is more of a white-collar crime area. You'll be safe enough, unless you're running a bank or a country.

lima

My old ground floor flat in Dublin city centre - Heroin Junkies regularly injected heroin in the back lane and even in my balcony.. here is a video of it happening:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUlSeoklfAqihB0EbZGQQIKQ&v=XCdA1gkSeBY&feature=player_detailpage

I recommend NOT getting a ground floor flat

Ben D Bus

lima wrote: »

I recommend NOT getting a ground floor flat

So I presume you must be totally against houses? Unless they're on stilts maybe?

Look, there are some places in Dublin I wouldnt choose to live but sweeping statements like the above are silly.

listermint

lima wrote: »

My old ground floor flat in Dublin city centre - Heroin Junkies regularly injected heroin in the back lane and even in my balcony.. here is a video of it happening:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUlSeoklfAqihB0EbZGQQIKQ&v=XCdA1gkSeBY&feature=player_detailpage

I recommend NOT getting a ground floor flat

Where is this exactly ? because your sweeping statement is just that.

Looks like you had a new build apartment in an area which had an accessible laneway at the rear. id imagine rent was reasonably cheap there ?

drug users love secluded laneways that are accessible.

lima

Ben D Bus wrote: »

So I presume you must be totally against houses? Unless they're on stilts maybe?

Look, there are some places in Dublin I wouldnt choose to live but sweeping statements like the above are silly.

You can presume what you want mate.

I'm talking about city centre ground floor dwellings. Note 'city centre', because as you may or may not know, the city centre is awash with heroin addicts who crawl up and down lanes to smoke and inject heroin and this newcomer to Dublin has a right to know. If you are living in a city centre ground floor dwelling and have never had a bother and feel safe then good for you, if you put your argument across then the newcomer will have another opinion to weigh up against mine.

City centre - just emphasizing it again in case you read over my comment too fast again.

Cienciano

OP, nothing to worry about. I live in a 3rd floor apartment in west dublin, if you'd feel safer PM me and I'll arrange to swap
Ballsbridge is probably the safest and one of the nicest areas of Dublin to live in.

lima wrote: »

You can presume what you want mate.

I'm talking about city centre ground floor dwellings. Note 'city centre', because as you may or may not know, the city centre is awash with heroin addicts who crawl up and down lanes to smoke and inject heroin and this newcomer to Dublin has a right to know. If you are living in a city centre ground floor dwelling and have never had a bother and feel safe then good for you, if you put your argument across then the newcomer will have another opinion to weigh up against mine.

City centre - just emphasizing it again in case you read over my comment too fast again.

And this thread is about Ballsbridge in Dublin 4. You might as well have a video of junkies shooting up in a crack den in south detroit, it's about as relevant.

Neeson

Martyn1989 wrote: »

don't make eye contact with strangers

Really?

lima

Cienciano wrote: »

OP, nothing to worry about. I live in a 3rd floor apartment in west dublin, if you'd feel safer PM me and I'll arrange to swap
Ballsbridge is probably the safest and one of the nicest areas of Dublin to live in.

And this thread is about Ballsbridge in Dublin 4. You might as well have a video of junkies shooting up in a crack den in south detroit, it's about as relevant.

Detroit is a lot farther away from D4 than D1 is!

CianRyan

Ah get over it would ya, they're two completely different parts of the city and you know it.
Never in my life have I ever heard someone compare Balldbridge with North Inner City Dublin before.
Are you purposely trying to scare the OP?

listermint

lima wrote: »

You can presume what you want mate.

I'm talking about city centre ground floor dwellings. Note 'city centre', because as you may or may not know, the city centre is awash with heroin addicts who crawl up and down lanes to smoke and inject heroin and this newcomer to Dublin has a right to know. If you are living in a city centre ground floor dwelling and have never had a bother and feel safe then good for you, if you put your argument across then the newcomer will have another opinion to weigh up against mine.

City centre - just emphasizing it again in case you read over my comment too fast again.

did you read over my comment too fast or simply ignore it ?

kodoherty93

The area around Ballsbridge is very safe due to all the major Embassies in the area ie the British and American Embassies.

Im a landlord of 15 properties and in 18 years only 2 house of the house have had anything robbed. One being last month the tenants leaving the front ground floor window open with a flat screen TV visible and another house 2 years ago with a broken that they climbed in.

Dublin is very safe however be careful of begging roma gypsies that often pick pocket and avoid at abbey street area of dublin due to drug addicts.

But other than that you will be very safe.

Also if your in a flat rather an apartment I would check it out before you pay a deposit as often flats are cold,damp and tiny

Ben D Bus

lima wrote: »

You can presume what you want mate.

I'm talking about city centre ground floor dwellings. Note 'city centre', because as you may or may not know, the city centre is awash with heroin addicts who crawl up and down lanes to smoke and inject heroin and this newcomer to Dublin has a right to know. If you are living in a city centre ground floor dwelling and have never had a bother and feel safe then good for you, if you put your argument across then the newcomer will have another opinion to weigh up against mine.

City centre - just emphasizing it again in case you read over my comment too fast again.

He's living in BALLSBRIDGE!

lima

listermint wrote: »

did you read over my comment too fast or simply ignore it ?

Huh? You are quoting my response to someone else's post.

lima

Ben D Bus wrote: »

He's living in BALLSBRIDGE!

I'm informing him of the bad things in Dublin. He asked how safe it is.

lima

listermint wrote: »

Where is this exactly ? because your sweeping statement is just that.

Looks like you had a new build apartment in an area which had an accessible laneway at the rear. id imagine rent was reasonably cheap there ?

drug users love secluded laneways that are accessible.

off Capel St, 850sqft 1br for e950. Lovely apartment but yep an accessible lane. Moved the hell out of there soon after a syringe and massive ****e were gifted to me on my balcony.

Funnily enough I live close to Ballsbridge now, lovely area

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

FloatingVoter wrote: »

If you're living in an isolated cottage down the bogs, then yes, an armed invasion is a far bigger possibility.

You literally have no idea what you're on about, do you??

Martyn1989

Neeson wrote: »

Really?

Never, its a jungle out there!!!

Jay D

ah it's threads like this that really make you wish the internet never existed (or something)

WoollyRedHat

Ballsbridge is built on a major water reservoir which is liable to burst any day now and flood there and beyond into the city Centre. So my advice to you is to invest in a gondola for yourself, they're pricey at the moment though because no one wants to fix " that ****ing reservoir" because it's an awful lot of effort, sure you know yourself, and as a result the prices of gondolas have shot up, but when the time comes you'll be glad you bought. That's if the reservoir actually floods, there'll be an awful lot of eejits otherwise.

You could just invest in a lilo, but that isn't the ballsbridge way, and likely when the time comes and everyone else is in their fancy gondolas heading to work and they see you in your lilo, you'll get laughed out of it.

Fenian Army

Ballsbridge? You'll be fine, just make sure not to pick up the accent

BrazIrish

Well, I'd say Dublin not THAT safe, even though it is safe. As in any major city careful with your belongs, I have been assaulted and attacked 3 times in less than 2 years living in Dublin. From my flat in Dublin 8 I saw nearly once a week a couple of lads breaking car windows and taking whatever they could while they were stopped in the traffic light. And I know people who had their phones taken from their hands in Henry Street during the day and they weren't alone. Anyway, you have to be careful.
I moved recently to Ringsend, which is D4, and I really feel safe here despite the social housing one block away. Never had any problem over here. I work just across the toll bridge and sometimes I leave home 4am and come back after 12am and still feel very safe and using my iphone on the street, but here. Never in some other areas of Dublin. You will be fine in Ballsbridge.

bluecode

From my flat in Dublin 8 I saw nearly once a week a couple of lads breaking car windows and taking whatever they could while they were stopped in the traffic light. And

Dublin 8 there's the problem right there. Stay the F out of D8. I lived most of my life in Dublin, never had a problem and that's over forty years. First bit of action I saw was in Galway when I moved there. Even then it was the classic, 'You looking at my girlfriend' scenario.

As in any major city careful with your belongs, I have been assaulted and attacked 3 times in less than 2 years living in Dublin.

You have been unlucky or careless. I grew up in Dublin, never saw the like. Maybe I'm streetwise. I think you've been unlucky though.

BrazIrish

bluecode wrote: »

You have been unlucky or careless. I grew up in Dublin, never saw the like. Maybe I'm streetwise. I think you've been unlucky though.

I was born and raised in São Paulo so it was really unexpected to go through such a situation here, I was really careless the first time and I was on the Luas red line. The other two times I was 'unlucky' or not just me but some other friends as I said... and never alone