Being aware of your surroundings, regardless of a "safe" or "dangerous" place is just street smarts. However, you may not realize that looking around every minute makes you look scared and people who want to victimize you will catch on to that fear and target you. And other people, that are not trying to harm you, will think there is something wrong with you and avoid you as the "danger stranger". I would suggest being more calm, use your ears as well as your eyes, and look a little less often. "Blend in" is the safe way to move through an area.