Have you ever found yourself wondering just how safe your neighborhood really is? Being aware of how safe your community is can help you make smart choices to protect you, your family and your home.
Maybe you’re house-hunting and trying to find the best neighborhood for your family. Or you’ve recently been shaken by a home break-in nearby. Or you are simply trying to gain a better picture of the crime rates in your area. Read on for some tips on finding your neighborhood crime statistics.
The Best Tools to View Crime Reports in Your Neighborhood
Fortunately, there are plenty of available resources to look up crime reports by address, or to view local, state, and national maps. These sites are designed to help you get a better picture of crime (or hopefully lack thereof) in your community.
One of the best ways to simply search “[your city] crime map” in a search engine. This will likely bring up a local law enforcement agency’s crime map, which can provide accurate, up-to-date info. However, not all areas and jurisdictions have the resources to build their own crime map. In that case, you may need to rely on a third-party tool to analyze your neighborhood crime data yourself.
Below, we’ve outlined the features of some of our favorite tools for understanding crime and crime rates in your community, city, county, or state. These tools let you enter your location information or even your specific addresses, to give you a clearer picture of home break-ins and other crime stats nearby. This info can help you make good decisions for your family, improve your awareness, and keep your home safe.
Crime Maps and Crime Statistics by Municipality
Looking for crime maps in a specific area? We’ve compiled crime maps for some of the biggest cities in CPI Security’s footprint.
- See Charlotte’s crime map at crimemapping.com.
- Raleigh, NC uses its own crime mapping tool.
- Atlanta provides three different types of crime maps for residents to view.
Visit your municipality’s government website to find crime data specific to your area.
FBI Crime Data Explorer
For a broader view of crime in your state or area, check out the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer tool. It offers detailed crime information and statistics by state and, in some areas, by local law enforcement agencies. This resource provides a detailed look at crime and crime trends in your town, city, county, and/or state. It does not give info about crime in specific neighborhoods or show exact locations of the crimes.
National and State Sex Offender Registry
It is always a good idea to remain aware of the people living in your neighborhood. There are federal and state resources that can show you if there are any registered sex offenders living near you. For example, visit the Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Public Website to search for registered sex offenders in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and Indian Country.
Each state also keeps track of registered sex offenders. You can search for your state’s registry using a search engine or by visiting the following links to view the stat registries that fall within our service area.
North Carolina Sex Offender and Public Protection Agency
South Carolina Public Sex Offender Registry
Tennessee Sex Offender Registry
Crimemapping.com
Crimemapping.com partners with law enforcement agencies throughout North America to provide information about recent crime activity. This site obtains crime stats for the last 6 months from local agencies and displays it by block. Crimes are categorized by type so that citizens can have a thorough picture of what crimes are taking place and where they occur. Specific details of each incident are not shared. For more detailed info about each incident, you would need to contact your local law enforcement agency.
This website also offers the option of subscribing to email alerts to keep yourself up-to-date on crimes taking place nearby. That way you can take preventative measures to keep yourself, your family, and your property protected.
Keep in mind, not every area can be found on crimemapping.com, as it leans on partnerships with local law enforcement.
SpotCrime
SpotCrime is a crime data aggregator, similar to crimemapping.com. This site gathers data from verified news reports. This data is used to create crime maps that offer accurate, timely geocoded information to the public. It also offers the option to subscribe to crime alerts near you.
Because SpotCrime relies on news reports in addition to local law enforcement data, you may have luck finding your neighborhood crime map there, even if it is unavailable on crimemapping.com.
However, remember that not all crimes are reported by the media, so you may see a incomplete picture of crime near you if your local law enforcement agency isn’t partnering with SpotCrime.
AreaVibes
If you’re thinking of moving somewhere new and trying to get an idea of not only crime, but overall livability, try AreaVibes. This tool’s algorithm looks at data in a variety of categories including amenities, cost of living, crime, employment, housing, schools, and user rating. It uses that information to then calculate a livability score.
AreaVibes also allows you to search by specific characteristics such as crime, cost of living, or whatever factors you think are most important when looking for a new home. It is available for areas across the United States and Canada.
Factors That Make a Neighborhood Safer
As you research your neighborhood’s crime maps and consider neighborhood crime stats, keep in mind that many factors can contribute to making an area a safe place to live. Nearby emergency services, availability of sidewalks and bike lanes, good lighting at night, access to good schools and medical care, and more can contribute to a community’s safety.
If you’re concerned about your neighborhood’s safety or even if you just want to take extra steps to protect your home, consider adding a CPI Security system. Our team of experts will work with you to customize a security system that fits your home and your needs. Then a licensed installer will come out to put in your fully integrated smart home security system. Your system and home will then be covered by 24/7 alarm monitoring from our award-winning central station, based right here in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Contact us today for a free quote.
