Whether you’re assessing security risks at your facility, overseeing the safety of tenants and guests, or collaborating in community meetings, a deep understanding of local crime is crucial. Increasingly, individuals are empowered to analyze and decipher this complex data, enabling them to make informed decisions and contribute to safety initiatives in their neighborhoods.
The vast majority of Americans report being at least somewhat interested in local crime news. However, many express concerns that it is hard to stay informed about the underlying causes or broader patterns of local crime. Black Americans are particularly interested in this type of information, with six-in-ten saying they are very or extremely interested in tips about how to stay safe (47%).
Online crime mapping tools such as SpotCrime provide a virtual compass for people seeking up-to-date reports of reported incidents. By incorporating real-time occurrences into their features, these platforms enable users to participate in spatial awareness, fostering a culture of collaborative vigilance.
Calls-for-Service data is another important resource, offering actual reports from police departments about incidents occurring in specific geographic areas. Commercial service providers also offer crime forecast reports that rate a specific address’s risk of crime, based on factors such as the number and types of reported crimes.
Although these tools are a great way to monitor crime conditions in your area, they can be misleading. Often, the geographic areas used in these data sets are too large to accurately reflect crime conditions at your specific site. This is especially true when you consider that the majority of crime incidents in your neighborhood may occur at one or a few “hotspots” rather than throughout an entire city block.