I agree with Owen.
Many places are safer simply because of location. That doesn't mean completely safe, it's all a matter of odds, but compared to a place thats heavily populated, a very rural place is safer, especially when neighbors know each other. In my case, I'm in a very sparsely populated state, a full tank of gas away from anything that truly qualifies as a "city", 30-some miles from a town, several miles and several turns off a lonely two lane hwy, with plenty of other choices before anyone got near my place. That it looks like I dont have much probably helps (can you say "hillbilly heaven?"). I have several neighbors that live close enough to see if anyone comes around, and several are retired. Many semi-local people that drive by on the hwy dont even realize anyone lives in the area.
When travelling, I tend to stop in rural places for the night for the same reason, and prefer to travel in winter when I have a choice, feeling that most crooks arent going to be as active in the cold. That its easier to get rooms is a bonus, and any activity in the parking lot is easier to keep tabs on. I dont have any trouble getting rooms that I can park right outside my window, one or two rooms from the door. I always go to the same places, and request the same rooms when I call. I travel with dogs and am also getting rooms in places that have good dog walking areas right outside the door, so it works well in several ways.
Many places are safer simply because of location. That doesn't mean completely safe, it's all a matter of odds, but compared to a place thats heavily populated, a very rural place is safer, especially when neighbors know each other. In my case, I'm in a very sparsely populated state, a full tank of gas away from anything that truly qualifies as a "city", 30-some miles from a town, several miles and several turns off a lonely two lane hwy, with plenty of other choices before anyone got near my place. That it looks like I dont have much probably helps (can you say "hillbilly heaven?"). I have several neighbors that live close enough to see if anyone comes around, and several are retired. Many semi-local people that drive by on the hwy dont even realize anyone lives in the area.
When travelling, I tend to stop in rural places for the night for the same reason, and prefer to travel in winter when I have a choice, feeling that most crooks arent going to be as active in the cold. That its easier to get rooms is a bonus, and any activity in the parking lot is easier to keep tabs on. I dont have any trouble getting rooms that I can park right outside my window, one or two rooms from the door. I always go to the same places, and request the same rooms when I call. I travel with dogs and am also getting rooms in places that have good dog walking areas right outside the door, so it works well in several ways.