Fayetteville police introduce virtual crime fighting tool
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- The Fayetteville Police Department has partnered with Nextdoor.com, a free and private social media website that can serve as a virtual community watch.
The department introduced the partnership Friday morning. Twenty-four city neighborhoods, including King's Grant, College Lakes and Beaver Creek, are already actively using the site.
The idea is that neighbors, who go through an online vetting process to verify their residences, can connect with one another and share safety information.
You can be an anonymous user, as well. Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock said that can make people feel comfortable. The virtual tool is also appealing to younger residents.
"I think what this does is empower them," said Medlock, noting the ability to use the website on the go, as an app on your smartphone.
William Peek and Dennis Murphy serve as community watch administrators for the College Lakes neighborhood site, and said it proved its worth over the summer. Through the site, they learned of a series of break-ins happening in King's Grant. The teens responsible spilled over into College Lakes, and because the neighborhoods shared descriptions of the suspects and the crimes, a College Lakes neighbor caught them in the act.
"The day that they came in a neighbor recognized them, called the police when they saw them walking around the back of the house," said Peek. "The police showed up, caught all four of them breaking into the house -- All because of this website."
"It's been a great tool," said Murphy, who hopes it will encourage more involvement in community watch.
While explaining the benefits of Nextdoor.com, Medlock also noted the decrease in violence this year. Compared to the first nine months of last year, the city has seen a 7.2 percent decrease in violent crimes, and a 12.8 percent decrease in overall crime in the same time period this year.
Medlock believes the website is another tool to help continue that trend.
