Local crime is a frequent topic of news and conversation among Americans, with three-quarters or more reporting that they see news about local crime on a weekly basis. Those who consume this type of news are also very likely to report feeling worried or concerned about their community’s safety.
Americans are interested in a range of local crime information, including details of crimes, tips on how to stay safe and the underlying patterns of their community’s crime. However, only about 22% of Americans say it’s very easy for them to get this type of information.
About seven-in-ten Americans report seeing news about property crime, drug-related crime and violent crime on a weekly basis, while less common are reports of white-collar crime or government corruption. Americans who live in urban areas are more likely than those who live in suburban or rural areas to be exposed to this kind of news.
Keeping informed about local crime conditions is an important part of ensuring your facility’s security needs are met. Unfortunately, many property owners are unaware of the types of crime that occur in their local area until they receive a lawsuit from an injured employee, guest or customer alleging negligence for not taking “reasonable care” to prevent a crime from occurring at their location. By obtaining a variety of sources of locally reported crime statistics, including internal incident reports, police crime statistic reports and custom crime analyses prepared by security consultants, it’s possible to develop a comprehensive picture of crime risks for your specific facility.