I’m local life-long resident of the area. During the last decade or two there has been a definite uptick in crime originating from Montgomery sources as well as a couple of small towns between Montgomery and Auburn along I-85. Most of it is typically individuals preying on the student population with car break-ins and burglary. College students at Auburn usually have the things that are desirable to criminals - money, electronics, jewelry, etc. and they tend to be easy targets despite it being a relatively low crime area with good law enforcement presence. Conversely, most consider Montgomery an area with a lot of crime for a relatively small city by some definitions. In recent years, many, many of my friends have moved away or moved to the affluent neighborhoods on the Auburn side of Montgomery. Those that work there don’t mind the 45 minute commute from Auburn to enjoy more security and less crime. The area where her car was found is not an area any young woman should go unescorted and I basically wouldn’t go there myself, as a male, after dark. Pretty much anything south of Taylor road with few exceptions is more seedy, more sketchy. I sincerely hope she is found but I remember the story of Lauren Burk vividly as she was kidnapped on campus and subsequently killed and dumped not far from where I live. My prayer is that this ends vastly differently and she is found alive and well very soon.
