Social Media & Crime Prevention

Why should law enforcement use social media to promote crime prevention?

The most effective law enforcement agencies recognize and promote partnerships with their citizens to prevent crime. Citizens who are engaged and empowered to be responsible for their communities are valuable assets to the work of any police department. As the popularity of social media rises, these tools provide opportunities for law enforcement agencies to proactively reach out and connect with citizens and promote crime prevention in their communities.
Read all about this new approach.

Fast  Tracker App Fights Crime

Social Media Apps Fights Crime

“Pinpoint unsavory elements in your neighborhood with the Criminal Tracker app”

Village Defense: Neighborhood Watch 2.0 - the good guys are winning

If you've ever lived within the bounds of a Neighborhood Watch footprint, you have no doubt been astonished by the amount of crime in your community. Neighborhood Watch newsletters in most locales carry lists of burglaries and worse and their locations, all of which are in your neighborhood.

A similar neigborhood program was launched  throughout the 123 neighborhoods of San diego last year. Called ”The Virtual neighborhood Watch Program” The police partnered with Nextdoor.com on line company to keep citizens constantly in touch with law enforcement. Go to this link for the News story and see how this  brilliant program was put into place.

Fox 5 LINK

A new Social Network called NEXTDOOR.COM is helping to keep neighborhoods safe through technology riight at our fingertips.

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Police Department wants you to add another site to your social media menu: Nextdoor.com.

The nationwide network is a neighborhood-specific social media site, and San Diego police marked their year-long partnership with it during a news conference with residents Tuesday. The department uses it to update communities with public safety information.

Chief Shelley Zimmerman said the site is part of the department's efforts to establish better communication with its residents. Since the department joined, Nextdoor.com membership in the city of San Diego has tripled, from about 8,500 people to 25,000 in neighborhoods across the city.

“Nextdoor brings us all together as one city,” she said.

Zimmerman spoke of one concerned resident who reached out to police via the social media community after seeing a pickup truck parked the wrong way on their street. Officers headed to the location and determined that not only was the vehicle stolen, but also that it had been used in at least one commercial burglary.

She also said Nextdoor.com was one of several social media sites the department used to get information to residents during the recent wildfires.

Police introduced several residents who said the site had helped them with neighborhood issues. One University City resident described how the site offered a digital twist on neighbors helping neighbors during the recent blazes.

“One neighbor posted about setting up reverse 911 calls, and another on how to get in touch with AlertSanDiego... and the Twitter feeds of firefighters and police,” Diane Ahern said.

Another resident described the network as “the newest tool in the community safety toolbox.”

When a woman was almost sexually assaulted at the Marian Bear Park in April, a local police officer posted information about the attack and Barbara Gellman was able to fill in other members of her neighborhood watch group.

Zimmerman stressed while the site is a great resource, it is not meant to replace a call to 911 for emergency help.

Officers were stationed around San Diego Tuesday with members of the Nextdoor.com team to show residents how to sign up.   - San Diego Union Tribune

You can read all about the services offered through Nextdoor.com by going to their website or contacting the San Diego Police or local neighborhood watch representative.  Link