# Clustering crime data which has {latitude, longitude, crime-type} tuples

I have a data set which has thousands of rows of {latitude, longitude, crime-type} tuples.

Sample Data:

41.757366519   -87.642992854   THEFT
41.910469677   -87.585822373   ROBBERY
41.751270452   -87.690708662   BURGLARY
41.757366519   -87.642992854   THEFT
41.757366519   -87.642992854   THEFT
..             ..              ..
..             ..              ..


I am trying to cluster these based upon the crime types.

For example, if in any region, THEFT has a high frequency of occurrence, based on the data set, it should show up as a cluster. I have tried clustering using the lat-long data only, and that does not seem to have any meaning for this crime dataset.

I am fairly new to data mining, and gradually figuring my way out.

How can I cluster the data using the latitude and longitude values based such that the clusters are related to each other through the crime-type? Is there any tool available that can use the lat-long data and cluster them on the crime-type basis? Otherwise, I can even write a script once I understand how this can be done.

Also, has anyone had any previous experience in crime-data-mining? In what other ways can I find interesting patterns from a crime data-set?

• Why do you want clustering? If you know the crime types, why not build a classification type model to identify regions associated w/ different crimes? – gung Mar 7 '16 at 10:12
• @gung : Wouldn't classification be required in case of prediction of future crime in any location? While my requirement is to analyse the past data, see if any particular crime-type cluster exists in any region, and establish possible relations between the crime-type and the demography of the region. – ankita Mar 7 '16 at 10:28
• It doesn't have to be about future prediction. If you want to test for associations b/t demographic variables & crime, you need a statistical model for that (such as logistic or multinomial logistic regression). If you are wondering if crimes cluster spatially, you need a model whose residuals you can test for spatial autocorrelations. – gung Mar 7 '16 at 10:42
• @gung Could you please elaborate this: "If you are wondering if crimes cluster spatially, you need a model whose residuals you can test for spatial autocorrelations." I believe this is what I need. Thanks! :) – ankita Mar 7 '16 at 11:01
• I noticed that several sets of your lat long data are identical. I looked it up and it's one address in Chicago. So, I'd ask first what sort of data you have - is it all Chicago? All one neighborhood? Or are they different cities? If so, do you care about neightborhoods? If they are all Chicago are the addresses, say, police precincts? – Peter Flom Mar 7 '16 at 12:18