Tired of looking over your shoulder as you walk alone at night? The good news is that there are numerous apps to keep you safe.
From emergency alert systems to GPS tracking and more, these apps can help you take control of your safety and enjoy all that this amazing city has to offer with peace of mind.
Here are the 10 best personal safety apps for Vancouverites.
Top 10 Safety Apps You Need to Download Now
1. Citizen: The Ultimate Crime-Fighting Sidekick
App: Citizen
If you want real-time alerts about crime and other incidents in your area, Citizen is the app for you. Not only does it provide updates from local police and emergency services, but it also allows you to report incidents and share updates with your community. Plus, with its user-friendly interface and powerful search engine, you can easily stay up-to-date on crime trends and crime hot spots in Vancouver.
2. Nextdoor: A Social Network for Safety
App: Nextdoor
We admit, Nextdoor does sound like a place where a nosy and elderly Miss Marple character would be found gossiping about the latest teenager circling their block. But this app also has an effective side, with a focus on keeping you safe from any sketchy characters lurking in the 'hood.
You can receive instant alerts about local crime and suspicious activity. With the "Neighborhood Watch" feature, you and your neighbours can also team up like a group of amateur crime-fighting superheroes, keeping your community safe and secure from any would-be baddies.
3. Vancouver Crime Map
App: GEODash crime map
Did you know you can find out exactly how much crime there is in Vancouver? The Vancouver Crime Map allows you to view crime data for your neighborhood with just a few clicks. You can access crime stats from any month, week, day, or year, and even search for specific crimes. You'll have a bird's eye view of crime trends.
Created by the Vancouver Police Department, this online map allows you to even search for specific crimes, such as "robbery," and see red dots highlighting the areas with the highest criminal activity. Plus, this information refreshes every 24 hours.
4. My Safetipin: Your Personal Safety Assistant
App: My Safetipin
If you’ve ever felt unsafe traveling to your next destination, My Safetipin allows you to share your tracking location with your friends and family so they can see where you are.
This unique app also provides crime alerts and assesses the safety of your surroundings based on factors such as lighting, visibility and crowd density. You can use the app to plan safe routes, avoid unsafe areas and even rate the safety of places you've been to.
Clearly, the Vancouver Crime Map and these additional apps are invaluable resources for those of us who want to stay informed about crime in our beloved Vancouver. With real-time data, you can take proactive measures to ensure your safety and keep ahead of potential criminal activity.
5. My SOS Family Emergency Alerts
My SOS Family Emergency Alerts is is a personal safety app that allows you to quickly notify your family, friends and the emergency services when you're in danger or need assistance. Once you shake your phone and trigger the SOS button, then the app emits out a pre-configured alert to your emergency contacts with your location and other relevant details.
You can also use a feature called "Safe Check-in," where you check in with your family or friends at the scheduled time. If you miss that time, then the app will send an alert to your emergency contacts to remind them to check in on you.
6. bSafe: "Never Walk Alone"
App: bSafe
bSafe has so many features including live video streaming if you're in danger, an SOS alarm which sends out an alert to your contacts. It even has a "fake call" simulator where you can talk to your phone so you that other people think you're having a conversation with a real person. bSafe allows your contacts to track with you with a "follow me" features, and it can also alert your emergency contacts via an alarm if you set a timer.
7. WalkSafe+
App: WalkSafe+
WalkSafe+ was developed by Vancouver's very own University of British Columbia (UBC) originally UBC students, faculty and staff feel safe while walking around campus and in the surrounding areas. You can use it for areas outside of UBC, and use GPS tracking and the "Follow Me" to share your location with friends and family.
If you're feeling like you're in danger, there's a "SafeWalk" feature where you can request a companion to walk with you so you're not alone. The app also allows you to "Report a Tip" to report safety concerns or suspicious activity.
8. Life360: Find Family & Friends
App: Life360
If you have a vulnerable, elderly family member or a child that's becoming more independent, you're going to love this app. Life360 is a family safety app that has location sharing as well as a panic button that can be used in case of emergencies. The app also has a crash detection feature that will automatically notify emergency services if it detects a severe impact.
9. Hollie Guard: Track Your Location
App: Hollie Guard
After a young woman was murdered by her ex-partner in 2014, an app was created in her memory. The Hollie Guard personal safety app has a "shake" phone feature activates an alarm. This alarm sends an alert to your emergency contacts with your exact GPS location and audio and video footage from your phone's camera and microphone.
You can also use the "Walk with me" feature that allows you to send an alert to your designated emergency contacts when you are walking alone, and the app can track your location in real-time.
10. StaySafeVancouver.com
We launched StaySafeVancouver.com with the aim of providing up-to-date information on local crime and equipping Vancouver residents with crucial safety tips. Our goal is to ensure that you can quickly and easily access information that will help you either avoid dangerous situations altogether or know how to handle them if they do arise.
Bookmarking this website means you'll never have to worry about being caught off guard in a sketchy situation. While Vancouver is generally a safe city, there are areas where crime rates are higher, and staying informed about crime trends in those areas is crucial.
Knowledge is power, and we believe that everyone deserves access to this valuable information. So, why not be a good friend and share StaySafeVancouver.com with your bestie? We'd also encourage you to check out these 3 pre-recorded TikTok safety videos that sound like real conversations, and are sure to deter any creepy drivers!