Social media is a growing phenomenon in today’s world. It is now being used to aid people during national disasters, help people network in their chosen field and, most recently, has become a popular crime-fighting tool. Many local police departments now use social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter to inform the public of fugitives on the loose, school shootings and other crimes happening in their neighborhoods.
In September 2010, the Toronto police department used Twitter to inform local parents that there was a school shooting at Central Tech High School. Constable Scott Mills, of the Toronto police department, communicated with officers on the scene and quickly tweeted using the hashtag #CTGun, to let concerned parents know that there were no injuries as a result of the shooting.
The Washington Times reports that social media sites are allowing police to fight the newest phenomenon in crime, flash mobs. A flash mob is when many people assemble in public to pull a prank or cause some kind of disturbance. Many times a flash mob is organized through social media sites by local gangs. They use sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as text messaging, because information can be sent to a large number of people fairly quickly. Police in Philadelphia and Cleveland have begun to monitor the social networking pages of locals who are known for organizing or participating in flash mobs. In Philadelphia, people have been robbed and beaten by a flash mob and in Cleveland, had a fireworks show disrupted.
Another trend in using social media to fight crime is police officers creating profiles on Facebook and MySpace in order to infiltrate themselves into gangs. They pose as gang members and are able to view profile information, videos and photos posted by actual gang members. This allows the police to get insider information on a gang’s actions in the past and plans for the future.
The NYPD has begun to monitor MySpace, Twitter and Facebook to catch juveniles either planning a crime or bragging about a crime they committed in the past. The use of social media sites have led NYPD officers to discover out-of-control house parties as well as catch criminals.
Police departments are using social media to not only catch criminals, but also to inform the general public when a crime occurs, such as a rape or kidnapping. Facebook and Twitter accounts have been made by many police departments as a way of seeking out witnesses to crimes and allowing people to report anything they may know about an ongoing police investigation. In Santa Cruz, California, the police department launched an application for the iPhone that allows people, using their cell phones; to submit any tips they may have about a specific crime. The application is also used to alert users of missing persons.
Recently, many neighborhood watch groups have begun to take advantage of the world of social media to help prevent crime in their area. In Sand Springs, Oklahoma, The Meadow Valley Alert Neighbors is a neigborhood watch group who communicate using Facebook. The group members learn each other’s daily routines, making it easier to spot something unusual happening at someone’s house. In addition, when the people in a neighborhood get to know each other there are less likely to be property disputes between neighbors. For these reasons, law enforcement is encouraging other neighborhoods to follow in the footsteps of Sand Springs and organize these neighborhood watch groups, using social networking sites as a way of communicating.
Facebook allows users to create groups for free. A great way to start a neighborhood watch group is to start a group on Facebook and advertise it to people living in the immediate area. Once a group is established, members should also use Twitter, as well as text messaging, to keep in touch with other neighbors. Through these social networking sites, citizens and police can work together to ensure a safer world for everyone.
Make sure you check out StunGunMikes.com for our complete line of Residential Security Cameras