Slowly, but surely, data analytics is beginning to see use in nearly every facet of our lives. Compiling and analyzing huge amounts of data can bring about some surprising and advantageous discoveries. For instance, police departments across the nation have found that they can use big data to predict and help prevent crime.

The Los Angeles Police Department may be the most famous story about the power of data analytics. It started with a mathematical model to predict aftershocks during earthquakes. Predicting earthquakes is difficult, but predicting the aftershocks is actually much easier. Once an earthquake occurred, the mathematical model was able to accurately predict the aftershocks that would follow.

Interestingly, the model for predicting aftershocks had a lot in common with the patterns of criminal activities. It seemed that whenever a crime was committed in an area, more crime was likely to occur—much like the aftershocks from an earthquake. So after tweaking the model, police had an idea not only of where crime already occurred, but where it was most likely to occur in the future.

At first the police officers were reluctant to use the software over their own ideas about where to patrol, but were quickly convinced of the software’s effectiveness. The model is now being continuously updated with new data, helping to make it even more effective at predicting where crime may occur next. LA saw an astounding 33% reduction in burglaries and 21% reduction in violent crimes in areas where the software is being used.

And it’s not only robberies and violent crime that data analytics can help prevent. In Durham, police were able to break up an insurance fraud scam involving an organized crime group defrauding insurance companies. There were so many accidents in the area that insurance premiums jumped well above the national average. With analytics, it was easy to spot a core group of suspect claims, and 70 people were arrested.

In the past, law enforcement just didn’t have access to this kind of information, or they weren’t able to use it effectively. Collecting data on crime in a city is one thing, but using that data to determine where crime may occur takes a lot more work.

When law enforcement works with the best new technology, they have the ability to make our streets safer, and help prevent crime. That’s why KOVA created SilentPartner, a revolutionary new app that turns your smartphone into a mobile recording device. SilentPartner allows you to capture photos, videos, and sound, and easily label them and securely transmit the data to an office database.

Like we saw in Los Angeles and Durham, collecting and analyzing data is becoming vital to police work, especially as criminals upgrade their technology, too. SilentPartner is exactly what law enforcement, or anyone who works in the field, needs to gather data on-site, and easily label, categorize, and transmit that data.

Check out our FAQ page, or contact KOVA today to see more about how SilentPartner can revolutionize the way you do your job.