The streets just became a little safer – or at least more manageable – for Roswell residents.

Thanks to a new partnership between the Roswell Police Department and CrimeReports.com, residents will now be able to access a map of the city to help them track criminal activity within their local community.

“Providing reliable, timely information to our citizens is one of our top priorities,” Roswell Police Chief Ed Williams said in a press release. “Partnering with CrimeReports.com gives us the ability to keep the public informed on a regular basis as to what is going on in the community.”

CrimeReports.com has become the largest network of maps and up-to-date crime tracking information since its inception during 2008, according to the statistics. Citizens in areas that subscribe to the service are able to access the map to see exactly where crime has happened locally. The intricate system also displays accurate summaries of the kinds of crime that have occurred. For instance, if you click on the little blue box with a “T” in it that is hovering over the corner of Alpharetta Highway and Crossville Road, you will be informed of a theft which took place there on Mar. 16.

But how does this information help the average citizen?

“CrimeReports.com provides a transparency of crime information between police and the public; so it clarifies the facts and helps the public stay better informed, hopefully promoting safer neighborhoods,” said Jenny Sass, a representative with CrimeReports.com.

Currently there are over 700 police agencies which subscribe to CrimeReports.com, including Los Angeles County, San Jose, Boston, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The service is paid for by local police departments (Roswell pays $127 per month), so there is no direct cost to residents when they access the site.

Though proven statistics on a direct link between CrimeReports.com and a reduction in crime is still unavailable, Sass believes in the system.

“A better informed public can use preventative measures to avoid future crime in their neighborhoods,” she said.

The system also provides an internal tool for police agencies called Command Central, which allows personnel to analyze crime trends and better assist troubled areas.

Roswell citizens can utilize the site at: www.roswellgov.com/crimereports, or by downloading the CrimeReports iPhone[iTunes Link] app from the Apple iTunes store.

Georgia.com Staff Report