How to Search for Crime Statistics by Address

Crime statistics are important in residential neighborhoods.

You may be considering a move or may be concerned about the neighborhood you're currently living in. Either way, searching street-specific crime statistics may be number one on your to-do list. Many people have no idea how to go about this search or where to begin. This information is generally available to the public and is relatively easy to get.

Instructions

1. Using your computer, go to the Google website (see References) and search for crime statistics by town or state. For example, if searching for crime statistics in Chicago, do your search on "Chicago crime statistics." If there is a website available for your specific area, browse through the website in order to determine if you can search for crime statistics online using the street address (many larger cities have this search feature available on a website).

2. Visit the local police department. Explain to the person at the front desk that you would like crime statistics for a specific area. Give them the street address and zip code of the home in question. Ask them to do a search within a certain mile radius (for example, if the neighborhood you are inquiring about covers approximately five miles, ask for a search within five or ten miles of the address). The police will usually provide a printout of some sort that gives you some sort of crime data for the area (you can ask for this for multiple years).

3. Call the local newspaper and ask them if they have crime statistics for the neighborhood in question. The newspaper is a very good source for crime statistics and most likely keeps up on crime in specific areas. Also, check the newspaper website, if they have one. You may or may not be able to search for crime statistics by address through the newspaper.

References

• Google