In areas with high gang activity and violence/crime rates, are most people not gonna mess with you if you just mind your business?

I just think to myself, if I'm in the hood or projects and I'm trying to make my money via drug dealing or stealing AC's/gambling and I'm just minding my business, what point in being confrontational with everyone I see and risking my own skin? I know it depends where you are but if you just mind your business and don't talk to anybody/not look twice at things people might be doing, does it decrease the chance of people in gangs or general criminals from starting stuff with you? This is also assuming you keep respectful and un-invasive of them or their business.