Here are some frequently asked questions about our crime statistics information.
What crimes are highlighted in the online crime statistics search tool?
The Sheriff's Office highlights the five top reported incidents for an area as well as selected Part I and II crimes of interest.
Incidents that may appear in the top five include area checks, residential or business alarms, and speeding. Part I and II crime statistics we report include the following:
- Assault
- Commercial Burglary & Attempted Commercial Burglary
- Controlled Substance Violation
- Family & Juvenile Issues
- Fraud, Forgery, Identity & Mail Theft
- Rape & Attempted Rape
- Residential Burglary & Attempted Residential Burglary
- Robbery
- Theft (excluding vehicle)
- Traffic Accidents
- Vehicle Theft
- Vice
What are Part I and Part II crimes?
In order to compare statistical information on a national basis, the FBI provides common definitions for crime comparison. This was done through defining serious and non-serious offenses. Part I crimes are comprised of serious felonies and Part II crimes are comprised of non-serious felonies and misdemeanors. This crime classification is not related to how an individual is charged.
What is a district?
The Sheriff's Office service area is separated into four precincts. These precincts are further separated into sectors, which are designated by a letter, such as F, C, or A. Sectors are broken down even further into districts, which are identified by adding a number to their appropriate sector letter, such as F9, C7, or A1.
What is the difference between the blue and green areas on the clickable map?
Unincorporated areas of King county are represented in green while the cities and towns that contract with us for law enforcement services are represented in blue.
Why is there crime information for some cities and not others?
The following cities and towns contract with the Sheriff's Office for law enforcement services:
- Town of Beaux Arts Village
- Burien
- Covington
- Kenmore
- Maple Valley
- Newcastle
- North Bend
- Sammamish
- SeaTac
- Shoreline
- Skykomish
- Woodinville
If your city does not contract for law enforcement services with the Sheriff's Office, you may try checking your local police department website for crime information in your area.
