MESSAGE FROM CAP INDEX

Dear Colleague:
You have undoubtedly been following the many news reports about the rise in crime that is expected to accompany the economic downturn and jump in foreclosures. We’ve read those same stories here at CAP Index.

Because we are committed to always digging deeper than the headlines, we are uncovering some very unexpected and nuanced shifts in where crime is occurring. We are seeing crime in places that before now had been free of it, and we are seeing drops in crime rates in areas that had previously been considered “unsafe.”

Late in 2007, when the first signs of weakness in the housing market began appearing, we at CAP Index correctly anticipated that early softness in the housing market would have a long and deep impact on the overall economy, and that this sustained downturn could cause some dramatic — even unanticipated — shifts in crime. The new information we are viewing is surprising, though not unexpected, for us at CAP Index.

Be on the lookout, too, for our 2009 database, which will be based on dozens of new variables, including more demographics, police data and economic data. Anticipating the industry-changing effects of these new economic challenges, we wanted to be prepared to offer you as much detailed and textured crime risk data as possible, in order to help you better predict crime and manage risk at your organization.

Thank you for your business. Let us know how our tools are helping you in your work.

Sincerely,