Some Dayton residents are talking on social media about witnessing or being victims of crime.
The problem is they don’t always notify police of these incidents, which makes it highly unlikely the culprits will be caught and prosecuted, officials said.
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Earlier this month, the Dayton Police Department posted a message on Nextdoor.com asking users to contact police if they are victim of crime.
About 10,000 Dayton residents use Nextdoor, which is a free, private social network for neighborhoods.
The police department said it found out some people were sharing posts and messages about crime in their neighborhoods that was never reported to police.
“We ask that if you are a victim of a crime, no matter how minor you think it might be, to please report it to us,” the police department posted on Nextdoor.
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The post was in response to an increase in crimes being mentioned on social media platforms that Dayton police were unaware of and lacked any record of, said Dayton Police Lt. Col. Matt Carper, assistant chief and chief of operations.
Timely and accurate reporting helps police identify crime patterns, which helps the department make decisions about where to efficiently and effectively put its resources, Carper said.
“In addition, when citizens report crimes, a crime scene investigator can be called to process the scene and potentially gather evidence,” he said.
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