Students, residents now able to track crimes in their neighborhoods
The CU Police Department is making it easier for students and residents of the area to know what crimes take place in their neighborhood.
The interactive crime map, made available mid-January, uses Google Maps to show Boulder residents which crimes take place and where.
One of the goals for the system is to allow community members to see crimes reported on campus in a simple, easy to use format.
“We hope to provide more information for people interested in what is going on in their area,” said Lt. Brad Wiesley of the CUPD.
Colored balloons highlight specific crimes in a certain area. Users can see crime statistics and where a crime took place by clicking on the balloons. Different colored balloons mean different crimes.
This site could prove helpful to students moving into a new neighborhood. They can see the number and type of crimes that take place on or near campus.
Each incident is only listed in the “hundred block” of where it took place. In order to protect the privacy of victims, no street addresses are given.
Some students don’t foresee using this system.
“I’m not really worried about the crimes in the neighborhoods around here,” said sophomore environmental studies major Jessica Hill. “I feel like Boulder has relatively small crimes, unlike Detroit or other places.”
Students who choose to use the system will find the site displays statistics for arson, burglary, robbery, theft, assault and sex offenses, in areas covered by the CUPD. It also allows users to select a date range, or search for a specific offense.
Wiesley said information from residents is a key part of preventing crime.
“It also helps the police department if users see something suspicious and report it, making it easier for the community and police to work together.” Wiesley said.
The Crime Map is updated each weekday and contains information for the current and previous semester.
Contact Campus Press staff writer Alexandria Bath at Alexandria.Bath@thecampuspress.com.
