A new link on Missouri City’s website is aimed at informing residents about crime in the city as well as providing them with a way to report offenses to police.
The free, crime-mapping national database, called RAIDS Online, allows residents to track all crimes including Part I crimes, using applications that group offenses by category and type, location and detailed information charts.
The tools can be accessed at www.missouricitytx.gov. Viewers can click “Tracking Crime” under “Quick Links” to access the crime database, a crime tip form and a house watch program.
“While crimes against persons have gone down, we have seen an increase in crimes against property in the past year,” said Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald. “Missouri City Police want all of our residents to be educated as to what is happening in our community and help us prevent crime. When it does occur, we welcome your information to help us bring these assailants to justice.”
The free, crime-mapping national database, called RAIDS Online, allows residents to track all crimes including Part I crimes, using applications that group offenses by category and type, location and detailed information charts. Part I crimes include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson. By checking the “Other” box, all other crimes are shown.
Residents can select a date range, click the Map tab and then zoom in on their neighborhood or take a broader view of the city. Clicking on the colored icons on the map brings up specific information on that incident. The Data Grid tab allows viewers to look at a word table and the Analytics tab shows viewers crime in various chart forms by the date range selected.
Viewers can also log on to report offenses through a new crime tip form. Tipsters can remain anonymous while sharing information. Another service is the house watch program, which helps police safeguard residents’ homes while they are away on business or vacation. Requests should be submitted 48 hours before departure and the length of absence should be at least three days and fewer than three weeks in duration. Homes are checked once per police shift, or three times per day. Residents can also call the police department at 281-403-8700 to request this service.
The police department has also created a new tip line—281-403-5868. The Tip Line is monitored by officers in the Criminal Investigation Division and callers can leave their contact information for officers or they can remain anonymous.
“These tools allow residents to use the internet to access forms that will get quick responses from Missouri City Police,” said Fitzgerald. “We want to provide residents with all the best possible ways of getting leads to the Police Department to solve these cases.”
For residents used to viewing the Daily Crime Report from the homepage, that information will continue to be posted each day under “Hot Topics”.
