As　a　result　of　variations　in　offender　activity　patterns　in　crime　hotspots　and　non-hotspots,　the　spatial　strategies　of　policing　(such　as　the　quantity　and　spatial　coverage)　should　differ.　Existing　literature　has　not　examined　the　spatially　heterogeneous　effect　of　police　stop　strategies　on　crime.　This　study　focuses　on　the　police　stops-crime　nexus　in　China,　using　the　case　of　a　major　city＇s　central　district.　We　introduce　the　spatial　dimension　of　police　stops-spatial　coverage-in　addition　to　the　commonly　considered　quantity　of　police　stops.　Our　results　indicate　that　the　spatial　coverage　of　police　stops　surpasses　the　number　of　police　stops　as　the　most　important　crime　predictor.　We　further　find　spatial　heterogeneity　in　the　police　stop-crime　nexus.　A　larger　amount　of　police　stops　and　spatially　focused　stops　are　more　effective　in　crime　hotspots.　In　crime　non-hotspots,　higher　spatial　coverage　of　police　is　more　important　in　deterring　crime　than　a　larger　number　of　police　stops.