Lamb, I hope this doesn't come off in the wrong way, but how long have you been here? Like they say, "everyone feels safe until something happens." When I first arrived, I was blissfully unaware of the crime problem, and kind of wrote off the warnings of my Argentine friends who told me how clever the thieves are here (thinking, "whatever, I'm from NYC, same thing.") Thanks to decent street smarts and a little luck, nothing ever happened to me, but the more I became immersed in the local culture (listening to the stories of long-time BA residents, witnessing street muggings and pickpockets, catching waiters who tried to shortchange me), the more I realized that the crime situation is real. So basically, while I don't feel targeted, I'm aware that this city is home to many, many thieves who always are looking for a target.