Systems and methods for transmitting alert messages relating to events that occur within a pre-defined area

1. A computer-implemented method for receiving alert messages relating to events that occur within a pre-defined area, comprising:

providing a user interface to a reporting application;

displaying a map associated with a location of a user;

creating a neighborhood according to input received from the user via the user interface;

receiving an alert message regarding an occurrence of an event within the neighborhood; and

displaying information on the map that relates to the location of the occurrence of the event, wherein the information comprises two or more of a size of the neighborhood; a population of the neighborhood; a number of events within the neighborhood; a categorization of events within the neighborhood; a rate of events within the neighborhood; and a ranking of the neighborhood.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alert message is received as a short messaging service (SMS) message.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alert message is received as an electronic mail message.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alert message comprises an identifier to identify the alert message as an emergency message.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alert message comprises an identifier to identify the alert message as a non-emergency message.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a verification for the user from a second user.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the occurrence of the event indicates an occurrence of a crime within the boundaries of the neighborhood.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a tip relating to the occurrence of an event.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the tip is sent as an SMS message.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the tip is sent to a member of a law enforcement agency.

11. A computing device configured to receive alert messages relating to events that occur within a pre-defined area, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

a user interface module configured to:

display a map associated with the location of a user;

create a neighborhood according to input received from the user via the user interface;

receive an alert message regarding an occurrence of an event within the neighborhood; and

display information on the map that relates to the location of the occurrence of the event, wherein the information comprises two or more of a size of the neighborhood; a population of the neighborhood; a number of events within the neighborhood; a categorization of events within the neighborhood; a rate of events within the neighborhood; and a ranking of the neighborhood.

12. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the alert message is received as a short messaging service (SMS) message.

13. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the alert message is received as an electronic mail message.

14. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the alert message comprises an identifier to identify the alert message as an emergency message.

15. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the alert message comprises an identifier to identify the alert message as a non-emergency message.

16. The computing device of claim 11 , further comprising receiving a verification for the user from a second user.

17. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the occurrence of the event indicates an occurrence of a crime within the boundaries of the neighborhood.

18. The computing device of claim 11 , further comprising sending a tip relating to the occurrence of an event.

19. The computing device of claim 18 , wherein the tip is sent as an SMS message.

20. A computer-program product for receiving alert messages relating to events that occur within a pre-defined area, the computer-program product comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instruction comprising:

code programmed to provide a user interface to a reporting application;

code programmed to display a map associated with the location of a user;

code programmed to create a neighborhood according to input received from the user via the user interface;

code programmed to receive an alert message regarding an occurrence of an event within the neighborhood; and

code programmed to display information on the map that relates to the location of the occurrence of the event, wherein the information comprises two or more of a size of the neighborhood; a population of the neighborhood; a number of events within the neighborhood; a categorization of events within the neighborhood; a rate of events within the neighborhood; and a ranking of the neighborhood.