Hoover homocide brings residents together on Smartphone app to help keep neighborhood safe
BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)
Residents in Hoover's Lake Cyrus community are thinking about safety after this week's tragichomicide of a 33-year old husband and father of two.
But did you know, keeping you and your family safe can actually start with your smartphone?
Police say Nextdoor and apps like it are useful in fighting crime and connecting communities digitally.
"Any way that you can share information with your neighbors. I think that's awesome," said Irondale Police Detective-Sergeant Michael Mangina.
The private social media network allows neighbors to advertise events and send out notifications. It can even act as a virtual neighborhood watch.
Shortly after Tuesday's homicide residents began using the app to alert each other.
"These people can help the police look for these things. You'll be surprised how helpful and useful it is for the police departments," said Mangina.
"You know anytime there is something suspicious going on, people will send out a notification," said Darrell O'Quinn, president of Birmingham's Crestwood North Neighborhood Association.
The neighborhood was actually one of the app's the test communities. Since then O'Quinn has seen real time results, through real time text alerts.
"Someone saw the crime in progress. Noted the location. Sent out a message through the app," he said about a crook's attempt to burglarize the neighborhood.
Armed with that information, police were able to zero in and catch the individual.
Mangina says whether it's through an app like Nextdoor, or even a Facebook group, residents can keep a watchful eye many times without tipping off the criminals.
"Most of the bad guys I've met, they're not even smart enough to know how to get on a computer and set up an email account and register for these things," said Mangina.
Police departments can also partner with Nextdoor and directly communicate with citizens who use it. In Alabama the company says police departments in Hoover, Dothan, Fairhope, Madison County (Sheriff's Office), and Mobile have signed up.