Although its location in Upstate New York may cause many to assume that Rochester is a quaint cow town with no real crime to speak of, the fact is that Rochester is a real city with a real city's crime problems.  The crime rate in Rochester may not be up to the levels found in places like New York and Washington D.C., it does have its share of robberies, car thefts, and violent crimes such as murders and assaults.  That said, very few of these crimes are known to affect tourists and visitors.  When one is visiting Rochester, however, it is a good idea to use common sense:  Be positive to always lock your car, even if just leaving it for a moment, and avoid leaving valuable items, gifts or shopping bags in your car in plain view.   Avoid traveling by foot after dark; take a taxi even if your destination is not too far away, and use good judgement when finding yourself in certain neighborhoods.  If a street looks too dark or dangerous, it probably is, so avoid it and go another route.  If you do encounter a problem while in Rochester be sure to contact the police immediately.  The number to call in an emergency in Rochester is 911.