I was researching if Quentin Crisp ever talked about crime in the East Village, which was very bad when he lived there...

I found out that Crisp actually was robbed in New York, including an incident right after he first moved into the Hotel Chelsea. Rather than being traumatized, he treated the burglars like unexpected guests. He recounted that when a thief broke into his room and demanded cash, Crisp simply handed over his wallet and politely asked the thief if he would mind leaving him enough money for cab fare to his morning appointment. The robber was so bewildered by Crisp's elegance and utter lack of fear that he actually obliged, left the cab fare, and ran off. [1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Crisp)UltimatelyUltimately),

Crisp argued that while London's crime was fueled by deep-seated hatred and misery, New York's crime was simply "business." He found a certain comfort in that, famously stating that he would rather be mugged in New York for his money than beaten in London just for being himself.