What is CrimeReports.com?
CrimeReports.com is an online mapping and analysis service provided by Public Engines, Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.  CrimeReports.com combines the value of law enforcement data with the ease-of-use of Google-based mapping and an analytics module so that members of the public can view police data in a high-impact map or summary descriptive format. Members of the public may also sign up to receive free email alerts based on user-defined parameters (e.g., geography, crime types, frequency, etc.). 

What type of Albemarle County Police Department data is used in CrimeReports.com? 
The CrimeReports.com service utilizes records management data from the Albemarle County Police Department’s RMS system.  RMS stands for Records Management System which is a computer database that stores all of Albemarle County Police Department’s report data for both criminal and traffic incidents. 

What specific types of data from RMS are used in CrimeReports.com?
Records Management data is utilized for CrimeReports.com, including the following data fields: incident date, case number (identifier), incident location, and incident type. 
CrimeReports.com translates address data into block level data. This means that if an incident occurs at 123 Main Street, it will show up as 100 Block Main Street in the CrimeReports.com application. Some location fields will be populated with “address could not be mapped” if the data was not geo-processed accurately.
The “Distance” designation listed under the specific incident you are viewing refers to the distance from the address you originally typed in under “Enter Address”. Incidents will only be visible for the portion of the map view you are viewing. You may want to zoom out to view all crimes for large regions. 

 Is every dispatched call to police included in CrimeReports.com?
Not every incident dispatched to police is included in CrimeReports.com. Some event types are withheld in order to protect the victim(s) involved. Such event types include, rape, sexual assault, crimes against children, juvenile related crimes, domestic violence and calls that are medical in nature.  In addition, general calls for service are not posted but only incidents that have generated a police report. 
Listed below are a list of the crime/traffic incidents you can search for in CrimeReports.com and how ACPD crime categories relate to the CrimeReport.com categories:

CrimeReports.com Grouping Albemarle County Police Department Crime Type Arson Arson Assaults Assault-Intimidation   Assault-Simple Assault-Aggravated Breaking and Entering Burglary/Breaking and Entering Disorder Disorderly Conduct Drugs Drug/Narcotic Violations Drug Equipment Violations Liquor Liquor Law Violations Missing Person Missing Person-Adult Missing Person -Juvenile Runaway Other Peeping Tom Proactive Policing Used by ACPD for Community Information Property Crime Vandalism/Destruction of Property Property Crime Commercial Embezzlement Robbery Robbery Theft Larceny-Pocket Picking Larceny-Purse Snatching Larceny-Shoplifting Larceny-From Building Larceny-From Coin Machine Larceny-of Vehicle Parts/Accessories Larceny-All Other Theft from Vehicle Larceny from Motor Vehicle Theft of Vehicle Motor Vehicle Theft Unauthorized Use of Vehicle Traffic Traffic Accident Hit and Run Accident Driving Under the Influence Data is posted from January 1, 2009

 How do I search for crimes?
Only "Part 1 Crimes" (Homicide, Robbery, Burglary, etc) are displayed as a default.  To see other incidents, such as property crimes (destruction of property, vandalism) or traffic accidents; click on "Crime Types" on the main page and select "Show All".  To see just one category of crime, click on "Hide All" then select the specific crime you are searching for.

 How often is data updated to CrimeReports.com
Crimes are published on the site at 5:00 am every morning. Cases not cleared prior to this time will not be displayed on the site until the following update. Only "Part 1 Crimes" (Homicide, Robbery, Burglary, etc.) are displayed as a default. To see other incidents, such as property crimes (destruction of property, vandalism) or traffic accidents; click on "Crime Types" on the main page and select "Show All."  Some event types are withheld in order to protect the victim(s) involved. Such event types include, rape, sexual assault, crimes against children, juvenile related crimes, domestic violence and calls that are medical in nature.

How can I find out more about the incidents listed on the site?
The website is seen as one tool in informing members of the community regarding crime in their neighborhood. Residents are encouraged to continue to follow local media reports and attend community meetings.  Please send any additional questions regarding information posted on this site to crimereports@albemarle.org

How can I use the data from CrimeReports.com in support of community safety goals?
Data from CrimeReports.com can be reviewed and used to improve community safety. CrimeReports.com data is appropriate to consider and discuss as part of coordinated crime prevention initiatives. Members of the community are encouraged to continue partnering and problem-solving with the Albemarle County Police Department while using CrimeReports.com data toward shared police-community goals.

If I find an event and have additional information to provide to the police, what do I do? 
Information provided within CrimeReports.com is intended for the expressed purpose of educating the public on law enforcement activity under the Albemarle County Police Department’s jurisdiction.  Beyond that intended outcome, the Police Department is hoping to enhance our partnerships with the community and is asking the public to provide the Department with any information that would assist the Albemarle County Police to resolve crimes.

If you have information regarding a case you can call the agencies 24-hour non-emergency number at 434-296-5807. Follow-up information of an emergency nature should be passed through the 9-1-1 emergency system.

Under no circumstances should any member of the public take any action on their own behalf as it relates to the information provided on this website, other than notifying the Albemarle County Police Department with information they wish to share.

Who can I contact if I have trouble using the CrimeReports.com website? 
Click on the link below for assistance in utilizing CrimeReports.com:
www.crimereports.com/company/contact

What are the minimum Browser requirements to use CrimeReports.com?
The CrimeReports.com system takes advantage of advanced features that are only available in more recent versions of web browsers. To ensure an optimal experience while using the site, you may need to update your web browser.  All of the listed browsers can be downloaded for free:

Windows Users

The CrimeReports.com system supports the following web browsers:  
- Firefox 0.9 or newer (Firefox is recommended for best performance)
- Mozilla 1.4 or newer
- Internet Explorer 5.5 or newer

Macintosh Users

The CrimeReports.com system supports the following web browsers:
- Firefox 0.9 or newer (Firefox is recommended for best performance)
- Mozilla 1.4 or newer 
- Internet Explorer 5.5 or newer

Linux Users

The CrimeReports.com system supports the following web browsers:
- Firefox 0.9 or newer (Firefox is recommended for best performance)
- Mozilla 1.4 or newer
In addition, Java script and Cookies must be enabled to use the site. These features are usually enabled by default.

Does CrimeReports.com have a FAQ site?  
Yes. FAQ and other related information (e.g., company, partners, legal) can be found near the bottom of the CrimeReports.com site at
- www.crimereports.com

Does CrimeReports.com have a disclaimer?
Yes. The disclaimer reads as follows:

"The information displayed on this website is susceptible to some degree of error due to the collection, entry, and geo-processing of the data. No warranty or guarantee is made nor implied regarding the content, geographic accuracy, timeliness, completeness, sequence, or accuracy of any of the information provided herein. The reader should not rely on the data provided herein for any reason. The information is provided strictly as a courtesy to the public."