Why do people say to avoid the big cities in Latin America due to crime?

Why do people say to avoid the big cities in Latin America such as Lima Peru or Buenos Aires Argentina or Mexico City Mexico, etc due to crime? What about it do they want you to avoid, besides pickpockets?

Public Comments

1. Because the pygmy and cannibal villages are lot more fun.
2. Most of the violent crime involves drug gangs and they are mostly located in the ig cities.
3. Big city's have tons of crime. But you going as a foreigner, is not a good idea. Who do you think local criminals will target? Their own, or someone walking around with a map and cell phone. Pickpockets, muggings, rapists etc.
4. I've hear this before. As with traveling anywhere it's important to read travel advice and understand what is an acceptable versus an unacceptable risk. I have been in the big cities of Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Belize and Mexico. Every city is unique and the general rules for safety are different. It would be a shame to miss the incredible culture that Mexico has to offer, for example. Crime is a problem in some of these cities, police are often corrupt, but by taken the proper precautions you can visit large, cultural centers and have a good, safe time (just like in the USA).
5. I think Mexico City is like any large US city; it's different to live in a rural village where everyone knows eachother and villagers are keeping on eye out for outsiders causing trouble than in a huge city with millions of inhabitants where people don't know eachother. Mexicans in general just don't like people from Mexico City; to a degree I can understand their annoyance. A lot of chilangos can be really rude (kind of like all of the jokes about New Yorkers being rude), but not everyone is that way. If you ask directions on a street, people will usually try to help you (and if they don't know, sadly they will waste your time telling you wrong directions instead of just telling you they don't know). Drivers in Mexico City can be really, really rude though. It's kind of strange to go to Toluca and see how much more polite drivers are over there. I've never been to Buenos Aires and Lima, but I know some people that have and liked both cities. Mexico City has bad neighborhoods that aren't a good idea to get lost in, but there's parts of the city where you can walk alone at 3 am in the morning without fear that people will assault and mug you. I feel more safe in Mexico City than in Los Angeles. That city is kind of creepy at night.
6. What a shame to miss the vast history of Mexico because of crime reports. When I visited Milan, long ago, the Red Brigades set pine trees on fire in front of the train station to protest something I can't remember, last year cars were being set on fire in Paris. Go and have fun, life is short.
7. just dont stand out and youll be fine like dont show your money and dont dress like expensive clothes and i heard mexico city is clean just dont go on free way and where military is and now the crime is in ixtapa where acapulco is so thats the newest news i heard of crime yesterday