Bars or No Bars on Windows?

[Mel Selvidge]

I always think a house or block seems safer when I don't see caged windows and burly fencing everywhere.  Personally, I have never wanted to live like I was "in the embassy" even when I lived in a high crime area like West Oakland, but I can see the liability in not doing so also.

If you've got a rental in a rougher area, but not the worst (e.g. where 25%-50% of the places have bars on the windows) do you leave/put them up or take them down?  What do tenants and prospective tenants prefer?