Yes, I’m very worried about it. The street seating with a laptop isn’t very safe unless you’re in some part of the street seating that’s a bit more enclosed which is a bit safer. And then there’s also the possibility that someone notices you and follows you home.
Since arriving in 2006 I have only returned to the USA twice, both times in 2008. I'm not sure if it was during the first trip in March or the second trip in October, but during one of them, two men were waiting in front of my building late at night as two young women who lived in an apartment two floors above mine approached the front entrance.
The men told them they were there to see the Americano who lived on the fourth floor and, for unknown (if not unforgivable) reason, the girls let them in. After they got in the small (four person capacity) elevator, the men pulled knives and they stopped at the fourth floor. As I wasn't there to answer the door, they proceded to the women's apartment, but left after not finding anything worth stealing.
In the three years I lived there, I don't think anyone ever "followed me home" but I frequently bought paintings at the afternoon art auctions at the Banco Ciudad. I occasionally walked home from the center, carrying the paintings in canvas bags with the Banco Ciudad logo screen printed on both sides. Only once, a few blocks from my apartment, while I was carrying one of the bags, a man tried to talk to me in Englsih, but I ignored him (acting like I never heard him and not looking at him). I continued walking to my apartment, but I went past it and doubled back after I was sure no one was follwing me.
I’m trying to book my future Airbnbs closer to Recoleta. Palermo seems a bit more prone to theft I feel.
The olny time I rented an apartment in Argentina,for six months after my arrival in 2006, was in Palermo, near Alto Palermo Shopping. It was located at the corner of Guise and Charcas,in a beautiful new building.
I never had any problems there and ever had any concerns about my safety. As it was a furnished apartment, I didn't do much shopping and never had anything delivered. I didn't start buying furniture and art until after I bought the apartmnt I lived in until 2009.
That was the apartment I was living in when the two men who wanted to rob me entered the building with the two women .
It was in Recoleta, on Aranales near the corner of Junin.