The following interactive mapping service is provided by CrimeReports.com. Point locations shown on the map do not identify the actual incident location. Crime codes are grouped into categories using situation found codes provided by officers answering a call for service.

Incidents provided by Carroll County Sheriff's Office to CrimeReports.com are derived from information collected by the county's 911 Dispatch System. After follow-up action by the deputies, incident types and case disposition may change.

Javascript is required to view this crime map.

Review and map current law enforcement activities throughout Carroll County by visiting the interactive CrimeReports.com web site at: www.crimereports.com

The reduction of crime and victimization is a priority of the Carroll County Sheriff's Office. Sharing information about crime trends is essential to this endeavor. Annually, nearly three-fourths of all criminal activity within Carroll County is related to theft. Thieves routinely steal items from unlocked homes, garages, and sheds, open motor vehicles, and property left unsecured and unattended in yards. Members of the community, working in collaboration with the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, can help to significantly reduce these crimes.

For an overview of last year’s Crime in Maryland Report, please visit the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention Website at: www.goccp.maryland.gov

The Carroll County Sheriff's Office is pleased to offer these crime prevention tips and resources contained within these pages. We also hope that you will share this information with your family, friends, coworkers and neighbors. Using these guidelines will help you stay informed about crime occuring within your community, identify suspicious persons and activities, and adopt proactive measures to reduce the possibility of becoming a crime victim. As always, should you encounter any situation that requires the assistance of law enforcement please call 911, or the toll free anonymous TIPS hotline at 1-888-399-TIPS (4877).

Crime prevention is:

“Being aware that a crime CAN occur, and ANTICIPATING the type, location, and time, and TAKING ACTION to reduce the chance of it happening.”

3 Elements of Crime There are three elements that must be present before a criminal can commit an illegal act: DESIRE, ABILITY and OPPORTUNITY. By eliminating just one of these components, crime can be averted. While control over the first two elements, DESIRE and ABILITY rests solely with the suspect, you can have considerable impact on the third – OPPORTUNITY.

Crime prevention is largely using instinct, action, and common sense, to eliminate (or greatly reduce) a criminal’s opportunity. Your responsibility lies in removing opportunity to decrease the likelihood of becoming a victim. While the blame for illegal acts rests with the criminal, the fact remains we all have a crucial role to play in the area of crime prevention.

Crime prevention requires a holistic approach involving every member of the community. The collective actions of everyone within a neighborhood are vital to success.

For more information on how you can prevent crime in your neighborhood, please view and/or print our brochure entitled "Understanding Crime Prevention".

If you would like more information on how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of Identity Theft or what to do if you should become a victim, please view/print our brochure "Don't Be A Victim".

How Can You Practice Crime Prevention?

1. EDUCATE YOURSELF ON CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES.

Contact the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office for information on how to make your home more secure, mark your personal property and maintain personal security. Request a residential home security survey.

2. KNOW YOUR SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES

Know the location of the Sheriff’s Office and substations. Get to know and support your local deputy.

3. REPORT ALL CRIME

Utilize the 911 system for emergencies and to report suspicious activities or circumstances. No violation is too small to be reported. Don't assume someone haas already reported the incident.

4. STAY INFORMED

Knowledge is POWER. Follow the news. Keep current on local crime problems. Attend public meetings. Become familiar with local crime trends and what proactive measures are being done to address the issues. To receive real-time e-mail alerts about crimes occurring in your community, visit the interactive Crime Reports Website at: www.crimereports.com

5. WORK WITH OTHERS

Support groups, community associations, and other proactive neighborhood organizations are invaluable in combating crime. Encourage children to become actively involved in the effort to build character and foster a sense of security.

VEHICLE SECURITY

1. Remove Valuables

If you can leave your valuables at home, do so. If this is not an option, place your items in the trunk or out of public view.

2. Lock your Vehicle

Verify that your vehicle is securely locked before leaving it unattended. Be mindful that remote locking devices can malfunction, so verify their proper operation before leaving the vehicle unattended.

3. Close Windows and Sun Roofs

Windows and sun/moon roof allow a thief quick and easy access to your vehicle's interior and the property within. Access can be gained through a very small opening so ensure windows are completely closed and the sun roof secured.

4. Install an Alarm

Consider the use of an alarm with an ignition kill switch and/or the use of an external steering wheel or brake system locking device.

5. Parking

When possible, park in well lit areas with a high volume of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

RESIDENTIAL SECURITY

Most burglars spend under (60) seconds attempting to break into a home. A quality alarm system, good lighting (with motion sensor activation), solid deadbolt locks, and vigilant neighbors can be powerful deterrents to crime. The following tips can reduce a burglars OPPORTUNITY, and make your home less appealing to the criminal element:

Install a quality alarm system with clearly visible placards notifying a potential burglar of its presence.
Have lights with motion sensors at all entrances to your home.
When away, attach timers to your interior lights and play your radio to give the appearance that someone is home.
Keep bushes and other vegetation closely trimmed and away from windows and doors to ensure they can not be used as concealment by someone attempting to break into your home.
Only allow trusted friend and/or neighbors to know your vacation and work schedules.
Do not hide spare keys in easily accessible places and do not surrender your house keys, to valets, tow truck drivers, mechanics, etc. Use a valet key or separate your vehicle key from your residential keys.
Request photo identification from any repair person who will be entering your home. If any doubt exists, do not let the person inside and call their employer to verify their identity.
Never give personal information to telephone solicitors or via the internet.
Avoid leaving new boxes for electronic items or other expensive purchases outside on trash pick-up days. Instead, break down the boxes so their former content is not visible and recycle them.
Make certain that your house numbers are clearly visible to assist law enforcement and other first responders in finding your home in the event of an emergency.

By using these few guidelines, we can reduce the number of crimes occurring within our community and truly make Carroll County a great place to live, work and play.