Does Anyone use the Crime Data Statistics Maps before purchasing

[Debbi O.]

Can anyone tell me how accurate the crime data maps are? Is this a useful tool for deciding on which side of the city to purchase? Especially if this will be a live-in house hack where I will be living for the first year or two. Kind of concerns me, and map stats in my current area are very accurate with the maps darker and lighter colors for areas of lower and higher crime.