Southern Quito is safer than the north

The Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio reports that the increase in crime was again marginal in the south of Quito, while further north it rose with almost 23 %. This despite the fact that southern Quito has the reputation of being the "poor and dangerous" part of the city and most foreigners never even think of going there. Having spent a year working in southern Quito I have to agree with the experts reasoning for the differences in crime increase; the community spirit that exists in the south. The people stick together and look after each other's backs. I had the opportunity to really get to know several neighborhoods in southern Quito (some of which in the article are listed as the most dangerous in southern Quito) and I never felt more secure during my time in Quito than when I was in these neighborhoods. Southern Quito does not deserve its bad reputation and it is a shame that not more people get to experience it.