How CrimeLens works

Documented crime, mapped to where it happened, and always one tap from the record it came from.

Last updated: 5 August 2026

CrimeLens does one thing: it takes crime that is already documented in the public record and puts it where it happened, so you can see the history under your feet and read it at the source.

From a pin to the original source

  1. Open the map. The app shows documented cases within reach of where you are standing.
  2. Tap a pin. You get the essentials: what happened, when, and the current status in the record — solved, open, under appeal.
  3. Follow the link. Every entry links straight to the court decision, official communication or press report it came from.

The third step is the product. Steps one and two exist to get you there.

Why entries are short

It would be easy to write long, atmospheric summaries. It would also be a different app — one where you read our version of events instead of the reported one.

Short entries plus a real link keep the app honest about what it is: a way to find the record, not a replacement for it.

Solved and open, side by side

Most true-crime content gravitates to resolved cases, because they have endings. CrimeLens shows open cases too, labelled as open, because a map that only shows closed files gives a false picture of a place.

Where a case is open, no one is described as guilty. The presumption of innocence is not a disclaimer at the bottom of the page; it changes what the entry is allowed to say.

What the map is not telling you

This is documented history, not present risk. A pin means something was recorded there, sometimes decades ago. It does not mean a street is dangerous tonight, and CrimeLens should never be used that way. Neighbourhoods change; records do not.

Free and paid

You can explore the map and open the cases near you for free. The paid tier unlocks the full archive and lets you search beyond your immediate surroundings.

There is no advertising in CrimeLens, and no user data is sold. The paid tier is how the app is funded.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be in a city for CrimeLens to work?

The map works anywhere, but coverage depends on what is documented. Denser press and court coverage means denser maps.

Does the app work offline?

Browsing requires a connection, since entries link out to their original sources.

Is CrimeLens a safety app?

No. It shows documented history, not current risk. It should not be used to judge whether a place is safe right now.

What do I get in the free version?

You can explore the map and open cases near you. The paid tier unlocks the full archive and search beyond your immediate area.

Keep reading

Where our data comes fromThe records behind every pin on the map. Editorial standardsWhat qualifies as a case, and what we exclude. Privacy and victimsHow we handle the people inside the record.

See the record for yourself.
Open the map, find the documented cases near you, and follow every one straight to its original source.

Get CrimeLens