Answer
Uruguay is often perceived as one of the more stable and safer countries in Latin America, but this does not mean that there is no crime. Safety should be assessed according to the specific city, neighborhood, route, and time of day.
In practice, the main risks for a new resident are the theft of phones, bags, wallets, and belongings from cars, as well as an unsafe choice of address. Neighborhoods in the same city can differ in lighting, transport, foot traffic, and the condition of buildings. A national reputation does not replace inspecting a street in the evening.
A reasonable standard is simple: do not display valuables, check the route from the stop to your home, secure your phone and banking apps, and know what to do in the event of an incident. This approach allows you to live calmly without turning caution into constant fear.