Social Media Connects Communities To Prevent Crime

PRINCE GEORGE- It was last Sunday night, a thief walked up to Darren Wiens’ front door and stole a welcome sign. If he hadn’t caught it on camera and shared the video on a College Heights community Facebook page, he thinks he would never have seen the sign again. “It was pretty incredible, I was hoping that someone would recognize him, it wasn’t that it had a big dollar amount but it was the principle,” said Weins, “I was blown away by the response and how many people were sharing it.” Just a few days later, the sign was returned to him. Wiens thinks social media had a big role to play in its return. “Tuesday night all of a sudden the doorbell rang and it was him standing there with the sign,” added Wiens, “I’m assuming it was because of all the coverage it was having and people were recognizing him.”

A similar community group, The Nechako Bench Neighbourhood Watch, has a page as well. Its watch coordinator, Liz Haley, created a new decal to be added to Block Watch signs throughout the city. “That indicates to outsiders, a connected community,” said Community Policing Coordinator, Linda Parker,”that means residents are using social media to communicate, they’re using cell phones and they’ve got video surveillance,” Parker added that connected communities see less property crime. “It can really help on a daily basis, especially when people are communicating any suspicious activity, not only to one and other but also to police.”