HELP DOCUMENTATION

A simple user guide

• Accessing the Map
  • Search around an address
  • Jump to an agency
  • Jump to a state
  • Link to an address, agency or state
• Using the Map
  • Drag Zoom (IN/OUT)
  • Change symbol sizes
  • Choose different crime types
  • Change the date range
  • Search around an address
  • Filter by an agency
  • Jump to other agencies
  • Find the distance between an address and a crime
• Send link
• Copy link
• Create a trend report
• Create a detailed report
• Printing
• General Symbology
  • Agencies
  • Crimes
• Legend

Accessing the Map

Search around an address

You can search around addresses right on the home page. Perhaps you want to go right to your child’s school address or the address of the property you are looking to purchase. You can do that quickly, from here (fig. 3).

(fig. 3) Address box on home page

Jump to an agency

Pick an agency from this list (fig. 1) and you’re taken right to a predetermined area for that agency. Additionally, the calendar is adjusted to the last day of imported crime for that agency.

(fig. 1) Agency list on home page

Jump to a state

If you are not sure if your city reports data to CrimeMapping.com pick the state you live in, from the list on the home page (fig. 2), for a high-level look at areas of coverage.

(fig. 2) State list on home page

LINK TO AN ADDRESS, AGENCY OR STATE

In addition to these methods you can link from any other web page directly back to CrimeMapping.com to perform the same functions, here’s how you do it:

Link to an address

Append the following to the url http://www.crimemapping.com

"/Map/Find/<Search address>"

Example for 100 Potter Street, Lincoln NE:
http://www.crimemapping.com/Map/Find/100 Potter Street, Lincoln NE

Link to a state*

Append the following to the url http://www.crimemapping.com

"/Map/<Two Letter State Abbreviation>"

Example for Nebraska: http://www.crimemapping.com/Map/NE

Link to an agency*

Append the following to the url http://www.crimemapping.com

"/Map/<Two Letter State Abbreviation>/<Agency Name>"

Example for Lincoln, Nebraska: http://www.crimemapping.com/Map/NE/Lincoln

Using the Map

Drag Zoom (In/Out)

The Drag Zoom tool allows you to draw a rectangle on the map and zoom to (or out from) the area inside that rectangle. This is how it works:

1. Click the Drag Zoom In, or Out button (fig. 4) and your cursor becomes a set of cross-hairs.
2. Click the map and drag a rectangle over the area to which you want to zoom.
3. A rectangle will follow your mouse and as soon as you release the mouse, you will zoom in or out to that area and the Drag Zoom tool will no longer be active.

(fig. 4) Drag Zoom button

Change symbol sizes

For your convenience we’ve provided two different symbol sets for viewing crime. If you have a large screen resolution or a limited screen size, you can swap easily between large and miniature icons. Here's how it works:

1. Jump to a city with crime.
2. Click the Use Mini Icons button (fig. 6).
3. The map symbology will switch to smaller icons.
4. Click the Use Large Icons button to revert to the large icons.

(fig. 6) Use Mini Icons button

Choose different crime types

To focus your query or search for a particular crime that you might have seen; you can turn on or off the crime types that are displayed on the map. Here's how it works:

1. Jump to a city with crime.
2. Click the Crime Types tab (fig. 7).
3. Click a check box underneath one of the crime types turn on or off that crime type on the map.

(fig. 7) Crime Types tab

Change the date range

To search for crime from last week, or even last month, you can adjust the visible date range by clicking the date tab and choosing different dates (fig. 8a).

(fig. 8a) Dates tab

Here's how it works:

1. Jump to a city with crime.
2. Click the Date tab, between the Crime Types tab (fig. 7), and the Buffered Address tab (fig. 9b).
3. Click the text box labeled FROM: to set your start date.
4. Click the text box labeled TO: to set your end date.
5. NOTE: When selecting dates you may not select a TO: date in the future and you may not select a FROM: date that comes after the TO: date. Conversely you may not select a TO: date that comes before your FROM: date. The calendar will not allow it.
6. The set of available dates will roll from today back 180 days. Dates outside of that range are not selectable on the calendar.

Search near an address

To focus your search for crime around a particular location, you must do two things. Here's how it works:

1. SEARCH FOR AN ADDRESS
   1. In the address bar above the tabs (fig. 9a) type an address and click “Find Address” (Or press Enter). That address will be marked on the map and an information window will automatically appear over it.
   2. Alternatively, you can arrive at this point in the process from the home page, or you can enter an address from the Buffered Address tab (fig. 9b) and click “Find Address” (Or press Enter).
2. FOCUS YOUR SEARCH AROUND THAT ADDRESS
   1. In the information window that pops up over your address point, choose a distance from the drop down list that appears within. (fig. 9c).
      1. Once you’ve chosen a distance the crimes around that area drop off the map and you will only see the crimes within that focused area.
   2. Alternatively, you can choose a distance from the Buffered Address tab (fig. 9b) by selecting a distance from the same list next to the “Find Address” button (fig. 9d).
   3. Subscribing to the Crime Alerts feature allows you to focus your search around an address as well. In order to change the search distance after you have registered for Crime Alerts you must unsubscribe and then subscribe again using a different buffer distance during Step 3 of the process (fig. 9e). The unsubscribe link can be found at the bottom of each Crime Alert e-mail.
3. Finally, you can remove the focused area by clicking the Clear Buffer button below the Use Mini Icons button (fig. 9f) or by clicking the Clear Buffer button next to the distance list (fig. 9g) in the Buffered Address tab.

(fig. 9a) Main address search box

(fig. 9b) Buffered Address tab

(fig. 9c) Address marker distance list

(fig. 9d) Buffered Address tab distance list

(fig. 9e) Crime Alert - Select Buffer Distance

(fig. 9f) Clear Buffer button

(fig. 9g) Address tab Clear Buffer button

Filter by an agency

To view only the crimes for a specific agency, select that agency from the list directly below the agencies tab (fig. 10)

(fig. 10) Filter agency list

After you choose an agency from the list, you may remove the filter by clicking "Remove Filter" above the drop down list (fig. 10a) or by clicking the "Remove Filter" button from the map tools (fig. 10b).

(fig. 10a) Remove agency filter

(fig. 10b) Remove agency filter button

Jump to other agencies

You can browse around the map quickly by jumping to different agencies in the list under the Agencies tab. (fig. 11)

(fig. 11) Jump to agency list

Note: If you jump quickly to an agency whose date range is different from the one you were currently viewing you may need to adjust the visible date range.

Find the distance between an address and a crime

You may recognize a crime on the map and want to know how far away it is from a certain location. You can get that information very easily.

1. Jump to a city with crime.
2. Click an individual crime on the map and an information window will open over the crime (fig. 11a).
3. Click the link that reads, “How close am I to this location?” and the information window will show an address search box beneath the link.
4. Enter an address in the box and click “Go.”
5. The distance between those two points is displayed in a green bubble beneath the address search box.
6. Click the link that reads “Clear” (fig. 11b) to remove the form and clear the lines from the map.
   1. Alternatively, you may click the Clear Lines button that is below the Use Mini Icons button (fig. 11c). Closing the information window will also clear the line from the map.

(fig. 11a) Crime information window

(fig. 11b) Crime information window clear link

(fig. 11c) Clear lines button

Send link

You can share any map you make with a friend by clicking the send a link button. This button opens a new window to the send link form.

1. Click the Send Link button (fig. 12a).
2. A new window with the form opens* (fig. 12b).

(fig. 12a) Send link button

(fig. 12b) Send link form

Copy link

You can also share any map you make with a friend by clicking the copy link button. Copy and paste this link anywhere you like. This button opens a dialog with the link pre-selected.

1. Click the Copy Link button (fig. 13a).
2. A new window with the form opens* (fig. 13b).

(fig. 13a) Copy link button

(fig. 13b) Copy link form

Create a trend report

At any point while using the map to find crime you want to see a trend report follow the directions below.

1. Jump to a city with crime.
2. Click the Trend Report button (fig. 14a).
3. A new window with the trends will open* (fig. 14b).

(fig. 14a) Create Trend Report button

(fig. 14b) Report page

Create a detailed report

At any point while using the map to find crime you want to see a detailed list of crimes follow the directions below. Here's how it works:

1. Jump to a city with crime.
2. Click the link that reads “Generate Report” (fig. 15a).
3. A new window with your detailed list will open* (fig. 15b).
4. Click on a column label in the detailed list to sort the table by that column.
5. Click on an incident in the detailed list and you will zoom to that incident on the map (fig. 15c).

(fig. 15a) Create Detailed Report button

(fig. 15b) Detailed Report

(fig. 15c) Click the rows in the report page and you’ll go back to that crime on the map

Printing

Sometimes you may want to print a copy of the visible map and you can do that very easily right from the map itself. Here's how you do it:

1. Jump to a city with crime.
2. Click the link that reads “Print this Map” (fig. 16a).
3. A new window with the same map will open* showing your crimes and a simple summary of the query including any specific location around which the crime occurred as well as dates and selected crime type information.
4. You can drag the printed map area around to compose your image in a way that is pleasing to you and you can even expand the size of the printed map area on the fly by grabbing the small squares at the bottom and right side of the printed map (fig. 16b).
5. Finally, you can add a few notes to your printed page by clicking the link that reads “Notes:” and entering the information in the text box that appears (fig. 16c). Click outside the text box to set your notes into place (fig. 16d) and click the typed notes again to edit them (fig. 16c).

* You need to enable popup windows for this website.

(fig. 16a) Print map button

(fig. 16b) Print map grab handles are visible from the corner and sides of the map

(fig. 16c) Print map edit notes

General Symbology

Here is some information about the the markers and symbols you might find on the map

Agencies

Each agency has its own marker on the map, represented by a blue marker.

Crimes

Every crime has a symbol associated with it, and depending on your preference you can use a tiny icon, or a larger icon.

Large Icons	Mini Icons

Legend

Here is list of each symbol and its definition. Note that it is common for two agencies to have a similar definition for the same Crime Type, so in order to remain consistent for all the data we have (and reduce the amount of different Crime Types that we manage), we map our client's Crime Types to the following symbols:

• Arson

  Willful, malicious burning of a structure, vehicle, or personal property.

• Assault

  Attack on a person to commit injury. Aggravated assault usually includes a deadly weapon and simple assault does not. Domestic violence is not included.

• Burglary

  Unlawful entry of a structure to commit a theft or other felony.

• Disturbing the Peace

  Any behavior that tends to disturb the public peace.

• Drugs / Alcohol Violations

  • Drug Abuse Violations - The violation of laws prohibiting the production, cultivation, manufacture, distribution, possession and/or use of certain controlled substances.
  • Liquor Laws - The violation of laws prohibiting the manufacture, sale, purchase, transportation, possession, or use of alcoholic beverages, not including driving under the influence and drunkenness.

• DUI

  Driving or operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.

• Fraud

  The intentional perversion of the truth for the purpose of inducing another person or other entity to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right.

• Homicide

  Unlawful killing of one person by another.

• Motor Vehicle Theft

  Theft of a car, truck, motorcycle, or any motor vehicle.

• Robbery

  Taking property from a person by force, threat of force, or fear.

• Sex Crimes

  • Rape - Carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will.
  • Prostitution - Engaging in or soliciting sexual activities for money or other compensation.
  • Sex Offenses - Lewd or obscene conduct such as indecent exposure or peeping.

• Theft / Larceny

  Unlawful taking of property from another person. Embezzlement, forgery, check fraud, and theft from a vehicle are excluded.

• Vandalism

  Willful, malicious destruction, damage, or defacement of property.

• Vehicle Break-In Theft

  Theft of articles from a vehicle.

• Weapons

  Violation of laws prohibiting the manufacture, sale, purchase, transportation, possession or use of deadly weapons.

• Multiple crimes at one location

  This symbol represents multiple crimes at the exact same location. Clicking on the crime will bring up a page-by-page list of the crimes.