Of course, not everyone can afford a $500,000 home in Park Slope or even a high-rent apartment. But crime isn’t just about location—it can happen anywhere.

I grew up in a wealthy area of Pittsburgh that was usually considered safe, but every so often we would hear about break-ins and other crimes. Thus, while it’s important to think about crime rate while looking for Brooklyn apartments, you also need to think about what you can do to protect yourself and your family.

Although there is some information online, I prefer to speak to actual people when researching a neighborhood. These include potential roommates and landlords, local businesspeople, and friends in the area. This way, I can learn everything about a given neighborhood: how late people are still on the street, which areas are the most and least safe, how many cops patrol the streets, etc. With this information, you should be able to find the perfect part of Brooklyn for you.

FOOTBALL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

In the Football Cup Championship, Automotive High School of Greenpoint will face South Bronx at the Midwood Athletic Complex at 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning.  Both teams are 11-0 heading into the title tilt, however, the Pistons earned the number 1 seed by virtue of a stronger strength of schedule.

The Pistons are led by senior quarterback Maurice Edwards, who completed 63 percent of his passes this season for 1,328 yards and 15 touchdown passes against only three interceptions.  In the Pistons’ semi-final 20-0 win over Information Technology High School of Long Island City, Queens, Edwards threw for two touchdowns, while Dwon Williams returned a punt for a touchdown.

The Piston defense sacked IT’s quarterback 10 times, intercepted him once, and recovered a lost fumble.  IT’s offense was held to 195 yards of total offense, numbers which were aided by 10 tackles for loss by the Piston defense.  The Pistons, who are seeking their first championship in their four year history, earned their first winning season last year, however they missed the playoffs.

South Bronx defeated Petrides of Staten Island 44-12 last week to reach the Football Cup championship…

FOOTBALL BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

In the Football Bowl Championship, Thomas Jefferson of East New York (9-1) takes on August Martin (7-3) of Queens on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Midwood Athletic Complex.    The title tilt is a re-match of a September 18 regular season game in which the Jefferson Orange Wave defeated Martin 18-12.

Ricky Joseph led the Orange Wave with 179 yards passing, a touchdown pass, and a touchdown run, however, he did give up two interceptions.  Kadeem Bailey ran for 166 yards and scored one touchdown of his own.  The Orange Wave defense sacked Martin quarterbacks four times, forced three interceptions, and picked up 10 tackles for loss…

IF YOU GO: Midwood Athletic Complex, located on East 17th Street between Avenue K and Avenue L, Midwood, is two blocks east of the Brighton Line.  Take the (Q) train to either the Avenue J or Avenue M stations and walk two blocks west.  TA bus routes that run near Midwood Athletic Complex include the B-6 along Avenue J, the B-9 along Avenue M and at Ocean Avenue and Avenue L (three blocks east), the B-49 along Ocean Avenue, and the B-68 along Coney Island Avenue (six blocks west)…

CITY CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS PREVIEW

Both semi-finals of the PSAL City Championship will take place in Brooklyn tomorrow; both games are rematches from earlier reguar season contests against teams from Staten Island.

In one semi-final, Fort Hamilton will host Curtis of Staten Island.  Fort Hamilton defeated Curtis 38-24 on September 12 on Staten Island; the Tigers jumped out to a 31-0 halftime lead and never looked back.  Senior running back Alton Richardson led the Tigers with 97 yards rushing and three touchdowns, senior quarterback Frank Laino threw for 158 yards and a touchdown, while Brandon Reddish caught four of Laino’s passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.

In the other semi-final, 2nd seeded Erasmus Hall (10-1) hosts 3rd seed Tottenville of Staten Island (9-2) in East Flatbush.  The Dutchmen are seeking to avenge a 21-8 loss to the visiting Pirates on October 30.

The Dutchmen will have to contain Tottenville’s senior running back Marvin Staten, who ran for 236 yards and accounted for the Pirates’ three touchdowns in the regular season match-up three weeks ago.  The Dutchmen as a team were able to rack up 200 yards as a team, however, they proved to be no match for Staten’s individual performance.

Kickoff for both games will be 12:oo p.m.  The winners will face off in the City Championship game next Saturday at a site to be determined.

IF YOU GO: The Fort Hamilton-Curtis game will be played at Fort Hamilton High School’s stadium, located on 85th Street between Narrows Avenue and Colonial Road.  The B-16 bus stops along 86th Street and is accessible from the (R) shuttle bus operating this weekend at 86th Street and 4th Avenue.  The B-37 bus along 3rd Avenue is three blocks east of the stadium.

The Erasmus Hall-Tottenville game will be played at Erasmus Field at Avenue M and McDonald Avenue, Midwood.  The stadium is accessible via the (F) train, between Bay Parkway and Avenue N stations.  The B-6 bus stops at Bay Parkway and McDonald Avenue; the B-9 bus stops at Avenue N and McDonald.

Passengers heading from Brooklyn to Lower Manhattan should be aware that transfers between the #2, #3, #4, #5, and (A) trains will not be available at the Fulton Street/Broadway-Nassau Street station in Lower Manhattan due to Phase II construction of the Fulton Street Transit Center.  Passengers may transfer between the #2/#3 trains and the #4 train at Nevins Street, Boerum Hill; transfers between the #2/#3 and uptown (A) trains at Park Place/Chambers Street in Manhattan.

Travelers wishing to make a transfer between the uptown (A) and the downtown #4/#5 must ask the station agent for a transfer ticket, exit the station and reenter at Broadway…

Manhattan-bound (A) trains will operate local service from Euclid Avenue, East New York to Canal Street, Manhattan, express from Canal Street to 59th Street-Columbus Circle, local from 59th to 125th Streets, then express from 125th through 168th Streets for work on the Chambers Street signal modernization, 59th Street station rehab, and a track chip out at 163rd Street.

Brooklyn-bound (A) trains will run local between 168th Street and 4th Street, Manhattan, then over the (F) line between 4th Street and Jay Street, Brooklyn Heights, then resume local (A) service between Jay Street and Euclid Avenue due to the Chambers Street signal modernization.

Due to the modifications to the (A) train, (C) train service will not operate this weekend…

(D) train service will not operate between Pacific Avenue, Boerum Hill and 34th Street/Herald Square, due to construction of the free transfer passageway between the Broadway-Lafayette Street station on the (B), (D), (F), and (V) trains and the Bleeker Street station on the #6.  Alternate service is available via the (N) or shuttle buses in Manhattan.  Service adjustments will take effect tonight at 11:30 p.m. through 5:00 a.m. Monday…

(N) train service will be significantly modified due to various TA and NYCDOT projects.

Coney Island-bound (N) trains will operate via the (R) between Canal Street, Manhattan, and DeKalb Street, Fort Greene, then operate local service between Pacific Street, Park Slope, and 36th Street, Prospect Park, then express between 36th Street and Stillwell Avenue, Coney Island.

Manhattan and Queens-bound (N) trains will operate local beween 59th Street, Sunset Park, and Pacific Street, then operate via the Manhattan Bridge between DeKalb Street and Canal Street, Manhattan.

The adjustments are due to NYCDOT repairs on the 65th Street Bridge, maintenance in the Montague Tunnel, and other maintenance projects…

Manhattan bound (Q) and (R) train service will operate via the Manhattan Bridge between 6:30 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday due to maintenance in the Montague Tunnel…

In addition, a shuttle bus on the (R) will operate between 36th Street and 95th Street, Bay Ridge between 11:30 p.m. tonight and 5:30 a.m. Monday due to NYCDOT construction on the 65th Street Bridge.

For additional information on service adjustments, contact the TA Information Center at (718) 330-1234 or visit www.mta.info.

EAST NEW YORK -

The FDNY reponded to an occupied multiple dwelling structure at the intersection of Hegeman Avenue and Georgia Avneue at around 8:15 p.m. this evening for a report of an unstable building.  Upon arrival, the Battalion Chief reported that missing floor joints on the second floor of the building caused the floor to move, raising concerns that the building could collapse.

The FDNY set up a collapse zone around the structure as four families were displaced as the investigation continues.  The New York City Buildings Department was requested to assist with the investigation.