Doing a safety check in your neighborhood sporadically can help you find solutions to problems before they arise.

Where to look

Facebook has been a great place to get the scoop on what is going on in your neighborhood, business or personal, but when it is silent- here are a few apps to help you do a safety check. These new apps can help create community-based safety networks- so more eyes out there for you. The tools we have found have large crime-tracking components, but as always- stay safe and call authorities when you feel like there is a real threat to your safety.

  • 1. AreaVibes

    AreaVibes helps you find the best place to live based on the factors you deem important.

    How it works

    Enter a state, city, neighborhood, or address into the AreaVibes search box, and the website instantly plots the location on a map and provides you with its livability score between one and 100.

    The site also maps and ranks nearby areas according to their scores and compares your area’s livability score to state and national averages. AreaVibes also assigns locations a letter grade from F to A+ for each of seven livability factors, one of which is crime.

    Unique feature

    AreaVibes’ custom search function sets it apart from similar tools, allowing you to sort locations by livability factors such as crime, amenities, education, and housing.

    If crime is most important to you, AreaVibes is a great way to quickly and easily compare the crime activity in several cities at once. It breaks crimes down by type, number of reported incidents, and crimes per 100,000 people.

    The site also provides statistics about the area’s crime trends and shows how it compares to state and national crime statistics.

    Cost

    AreaVibes is free to use.

  • 2. The Neighbors App

    At a glance

    The Neighbors App by Ring is one of the newest neighborhood tools on the scene. Created by Ring (known for their doorbell cameras and Ring Alarm home security system), the app aims to be an online neighborhood watch program.

    How it works

    You don’t have to be a Ring customer to use the free app. It uses reports by people in your neighborhood and local law enforcement to alert you to suspicious activities and crime events in your area. You can also anonymously contribute your own tips.

    In addition to its neighborhood safety functions, you can submit or look for information on lost pets.

    Unique feature

    The unique feature for this app is more of a warning. Educate yourself on your privacy rights and Ring’s history with police partnerships before deciding if Neighbors is for you. Ring definitely has its privacy pros and cons to weigh, but its reputation for quality products also precedes it.

    Cost

    The Ring app is free of cost.

  • 3. NeighborhoodScout

    At a glance

    NeighborhoodScout provides crime statistics and other important local data to help you decide if a neighborhood is right for you.

    How it works

    NeighborhoodScout helps you compare neighborhoods based on overall crime rate, violent crime rate, and property crime rate.

    You can measure your neighborhood rates against those in other cities, as well as the state and national averages. Users can also outline a specific crime search area, whether by the distance around a city or by miles from an address.

    Plus, NeighborhoodScout can tell you what the chances are of becoming a crime victim in your neighborhood—and compare that with the odds throughout the entire city and state.

    Unique feature

    NeighborhoodScout allows you to create a custom search for your new neighborhood. You simply identify a community that meets your qualifications, and it will find comparable neighborhoods in any state you choose.

    Cost

    While most of the information on NeighborhoodScout is free, the site charges a fee for detailed data and reports.

  • 4. Family Watchdog

    At a glance

    Family Watchdog maps the addresses of registered sex offenders in your neighborhood.

    How it works

    Type a location or address into the website’s search box, and Family Watchdog generates a map pinpointing the address of nearby registered sex offenders.

    Color-coded icons correspond to various sex crimes, including crimes against children, sexual battery, and rape. Click the icon and you’ll see a picture of the offender, learn their aliases, and find out what sex crime they’ve been convicted of.

    If you’re looking for a specific individual, you can search for them by name.

    Unique feature

    Through the website, you can sign up for alerts whenever a registered sex offender moves in or out of your neighborhood. In addition to detailed information about offenders, this online tool offers personal safety tips, facts about sexual abuse, and a comprehensive blog and newsletter.

    Cost

    Family Watchdog is a free service, but you’ll be sent off-site to a subscription service if you want detailed background reports about any offenders.

  • Last but not least…

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