CHARLOTTE, NC — Do you know your neighbors?
Studies show that many of us don’t these days. That makes it hard to stay ahead of issues and crime trends in our communities.
CMPD and a company called Nextdoor are working together, using social media to create stronger and safer neighborhoods.
“This is one of the safest neighborhoods around,” says University City resident Clair Lane.
Lane wants to keep her neighborhood that way. Fountaingrove is one of more than 350 in the Charlotte area using Nextdoor.
Think of it as a virtual neighborhood watch, a new twist, harnessing the power of social media to protect your community.
“Other neighborhoods have issues, and I can tell them you need to do this or you need to do the other,” says Lane. “So we all kind of, we all help each other out.”
“Regular newsletters that normally I would have never received, or never known how to get,” says Emanuel Thomason, who lives in Hubbard Falls. “And you know it really helps because we kind of know what the current trends are for crime.”
CMPD is partnering with Nextdoor, helping neighborhoods establish free, private social networks and creating a tool to solve problems.
“They can post crime trends directly to that neighborhood, so they’re getting real-time specific information to their neighborhood,” says Nextdoor representative Michelle Braun.
“Let them know what’s going on. Let them know what crime is going on in their area. Keep them informed, and most importantly, teach them some crime prevention stuff,” says CMPD Officer Chris Kopp. “That way hopefully we don’t have the crime in the future.”
CMPD, neighborhoods and HOA’s can use the platform to send out important information and urgent alerts.
“Suspicious person, you know people are posting pictures saying, ‘Do you guys know this car; do you know this person? I saw them here’,” says Braun. “It’s just a great way to solve crimes online.”
“The police is out there. Your neighbors are out there. Other subdivisions are out there,” says Clair Lane. “And I just like the fact that we all can stay connected together.”
Nextdoor members are verified by address. Your information is protected and only accessible by other residents.
