Spot crime type resources

Investor · Atlanta · Member since 2019 · 532 posts · 89 votes

Hi,
How to find crime in area. I checked spotcrime website but lot of advertisements there. Any other good free resources to check crime before buying remote rental properties without flying or driving there. Please advise

0 Reply

208 views

Most Popular Reply

Richard (Ryszard) Cieplechowicz

Member since 2026 · 123 posts · 32 votes

Start with the police department itself. Many cities publish a crime map or open data portal, and the department's records unit will usually give you calls for service by address or block if you ask. That is more useful than a score, since it shows what people actually phone in. Next, ask a local property manager in that zip what drives their turnover and evictions on the street you are looking at. They know which blocks cost money. Then look at the city's code enforcement and 311 complaints for the same blocks. Three sources pointing the same way is a decent read without a trip.

1 Reply

See this reply in the discussion

5 Replies

Jump to latestLatest

Sort by

Richard (Ryszard) Cieplechowicz
Member since 2026 · 123 posts · 32 votes
4d
Start with the police department itself. Many cities publish a crime map or open data portal, and the department's records unit will usually give you calls for service by address or block if you ask. That is more useful than a score, since it shows what people actually phone in. Next, ask a local property manager in that zip what drives their turnover and evictions on the street you are looking at. They know which blocks cost money. Then look at the city's code enforcement and 311 complaints for the same blocks. Three sources pointing the same way is a decent read without a trip.
1 Reply
Richard F.
Honolulu, HI · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
4d
Or check a site like this.
0 Reply
Jim SternBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · ATLANTA Metro and Surrounding Counties · Member since 2025 · 9 posts · 1 vote
2d
Hey, go straight to the source. APD, Cobb, Gwinnett and DeKalb all put out crime maps or open data. Make sure you know which jurisdiction the address is actually in, because an “Atlanta” or “Decatur” mailing address isn’t always that city’s police. County code enforcement records are worth a look too.
Heads up, as an agent we can't label areas good or bad, and I wouldn't trust anyone who does. What I'd look at is the numbers: rents, days vacant, turnover costs, taxes, insurance and overall ROI on the deal. That tells you more about how a rental will perform than any map.
Feel free to DM me if you want a second set of eyes on an address.
678-369-3793
The Hardie Stern Group533 Reviews
Website View Page
0 Reply
Matthew MorrowBusiness Member
Investor · PA - NY - NJ · Member since 2019 · 600 posts · 207 votes
1d
@Gp G. The open data suggestions are solid. LexisNexis Community Crime Map and CrimeMapping.com are both worth a look too. I'd also add a set of local eyes. Have your property manager or a contractor you trust drive by at different times, nights and weekends included, and send you photos. From a distance, someone on the ground beats any website. Good luck with the search!
[email protected]484-791-6200
CORE Team | Realty ONE Group Supreme547 Reviews
Website View Page
0 Reply
Kevin PolitePro Member
Investor · Decatur Atlanta, GA · Member since 2011 · 612 posts · 232 votes
1d
You’ve received some good advice, but a lot depends on where you’re looking to buy. Here in intown Atlanta, you can have a great little neighborhood across a major street from an area with considerably more crime. I’d also look at the type of crime and the trend. An improving neighborhood may still have some crime, but it’s decreasing while prices are increasing. Even good neighborhoods can have property crime without much violent crime. I don’t buy in the suburbs, but many close-in suburbs around Atlanta started experiencing these same issues about 20 years ago. Crime maps are a starting point, but local knowledge helps put those numbers in perspective.
0 Reply

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.