With rising crime rates a worry on campuses across the country,?one new Web site is allowing users to report, track and locate crime near them.
UCrime.com, a site created this year, provides easy-to-read crime maps, details of incidents and information about possible suspects involved.
Improving public safety and the community is the overall purpose of the site, said CEO Colin Drane.
"Social networking features make UCrime.com especially useful for students, administrators and security personnel," Drane said. "In addition to knowing what is happening where, users are empowered to provide tips and ideas to help solve crimes and improve public safety."
The site isn't just a resource, as users are involved as well. Users can register and provide crime tips and information themselves on the Web site. The site also relies on newspapers, police reports and other public resources to compile information.
The service has 101 participating colleges in the U.S., but none are universities inside South Carolina. However, universities are added regularly to the site, according to a company news release.
USC Public Safety Director Ernie Ellis said he wasn't familiar with the site, but he would research possibly utilizing the site as a tool in the future.
"Of course, I can't commit to us doing it because I haven't seen it, but we will look more at the site," Ellis said.
In addition to the information being available online, the site can send text messages and e-mails to registered users. It also has a Facebook networking group.
- UWire contributed to this report.
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