Check out new Crime iMap

Rock Hill Police provide Internet map to help residents check crime data.

If you want to know where criminals are plying their trade in Rock Hill, the Police Department's Crime iMap can tell you.

The iMap, now available on the city's Web site at www.ci.rock-hill.sc.us, is a free application that allows users to search crime data from the departments files for the past year. Just type in an address or neighborhood to see where violent crimes, including rapes and murders, as well as nonviolent crimes such as car break-ins and burglaries are happening.

The department typically receives about 10 inquiries a week about crime sites. The new Crime iMap is designed to give people direct access to that information without having to call the department.

This service is handy for those thinking about buying a home or renting an apartment who want to know whether the location is safe. People might also want to know if the areas around their children's schools or the stores they frequent are safe.

And some, of course, will visit the site simply because they are curious and want to know where the high-crime areas are.

The police plan to update the map every day if possible. The data will cover only one year because crimes may not be concentrated in the same area after a year. Police officials also note that listing the crimes for a year gives people a good idea of what's going on in a neighborhood now.

Ultimately, the more information with which people are armed, the better they are able to both assess the relative dangers of neighborhoods and help police do something about it. Thanks to the city for providing this service.