API reference

One endpoint returns modeled crime figures for the 2020 census block group at an address, a point or a block group id. The same lookup is available as an MCP tool. Base URL: https://api.crimemetric.com

• Authentication
• GET /v1/index
• Response
• Errors
• Limits
• MCP
• Examples

Authentication

Send your key in the Authorization header as Bearer <key>. Keys start with vcs_. Get a free key by email; it is shown once, so store it somewhere safe.

GET /v1/index

Pass exactly one location: an address, a point, or a block group id.

Response

Top level:

Each measure (a summary or a crime type):

Summaries also carry:

Fields can be null where the data doesn't support a value. New fields may be added; existing ones keep their meaning within a release. What each crime type counts.

Errors

Errors return JSON: {"error": {"code": "...", "message": "..."}}

Limits

Every successful lookup counts once, whether by REST or MCP; failed lookups aren't counted. Use is covered by the API terms.

MCP

Streamable HTTP at https://api.crimemetric.com/mcp, with the same key in the Authorization header. One tool, crime_index, takes address, lat and lon, or bg_geoid (with the same alternative names), and returns the same JSON as the REST endpoint as its structured result. Called with a valid key but no location, it answers {"needs_input": true, "message": ...} so an assistant can ask the user; that call isn't counted. Errors come back as tool errors whose text is code: message, with the same codes as REST.

claude mcp add --transport http crimemetric https://api.crimemetric.com/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $CRIMEMETRIC_KEY"

Examples

cURL

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $CRIMEMETRIC_KEY" \
  "https://api.crimemetric.com/v1/index?lat=41.7713&lon=-88.1530"

Python

import os, requests

r = requests.get(
    "https://api.crimemetric.com/v1/index",
    params={"address": "400 S Eagle St, Naperville, IL"},
    headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['CRIMEMETRIC_KEY']}"},
    timeout=30,
)
r.raise_for_status()
total = r.json()["summaries"]["total_major"]
print(total["index"], total["index_p10"], total["index_p90"], total["confidence"])

JavaScript

const r = await fetch("https://api.crimemetric.com/v1/index?bg_geoid=170438465042", {
  headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.CRIMEMETRIC_KEY}` },
});
const data = await r.json();
console.log(data.crimes.burglary.index, data.usage);