"App" watch: Crime Maps!

App watch: Crime Maps England and Wales

Jeremy Jacob Letting Specialists recommend Crime Map England and Wales App (available on the IPhone and IPad).

This App is a valuable tool which can assist you when making a decision to rent a property, or a buy-to-let purchase decision in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (and surrounding parts).

Jeremy Jacob Letting Specialists often get asked by prospective Tenants: how safe a property, street, or area is?

Jeremy Jacob Letting Specialists believe that crime can always be a factor across the borough, however you can now at least take measures to investigate perhaps more thoroughly.

The Crime Map England and Wales offers mapped locations in the categories of:
Anti-Social Behaviour
Public Disorder & Possession of Weapons
Criminal Damage and Arson
Violent Crime
Drugs
Vehicle Crime
Personal Robbery
Burglary
Shop Lifting
Other Theft
Other Crime
Multiple Crimes in one mapped location



We have had a good play on this App and its interesting how streets that you would hope to have non nearby occurrences of crime…might very well do. In fact this App proves excellent in providing up-to-date accuracy. The App is very easy to use: input the post code of the address you wish to investigate and the pins fall onto the map in the chosen locality, showing crime incidents for the last month. You can even investigate prior months. Additionally, you can pinch the screen to zoom in and out of an area, also click on the neighbourhood overview button which handily gives you a direct contact link to the local police station.

In the context of property, Jeremy Jacob Letting Specialists believe that you can always minimise exposure to crime (namely burglary) by taking some simple measures:

1. Get to know your neighbours and create a neighbourhood watch network (trade contact numbers and if you are away travelling – then a neighbour can contact you if an emergency occurs).
2. Leave lights on in a property when you are away from the property for an extended time period
3. Likewise, perhaps leave a radio on in the background.
4. It’s unwise to allow junk mail to store up on the floor of your apartment (this can be a telling sign that you are away). If you are away for extended periods, it could be good to leave a key with a trusted party and ask them to open the door and remove junk mail.
5. Do not leave windows wide open when you are out and of course lock windows from the inside when away for extended periods
6. Lock all available apartment door locks. It’s always surprising how many occupiers choose not to use the second or third lock on their door.

We hope this App can offer you value.