I haven't had a problem with crime so far its been pollution that's been doing my nut in having to constantly build stupid haze mats constantly and then losing my last evuk game after getting 5000 extra pollution from out of fraking no were.
If I recall, Chris said that there's actually wind involved: Your pollution will always blow to the east, so try to keep your, uh, pollution centers far off in that direction. Though it was also mentioned that pollution from nearby civs (particularly the Acutians, because they do that) can flow towards you as well.
I dont know how far this all can travel, but keeping it in mind might help.