Set Facebook to catch a thief

A new Facebook page has been set up to alert people in Christchurch to burglars and scams that may be operating in their neighbourhood.

The Canterbury Burglar Watch page looks like social media’s answer to Neighbourhood Watch (which still operates in many areas). The page has reported on stolen items as well as suspicious behaviour. It also plans to cover useful tools like webcams, which can send files showing unwanted activity over the internet to a prearranged address.

Type in CantabBurglarWatch on Facebook if the link above does not work.

It adds to the ways people can pass on information about criminal activity including Crimestoppers (anonymous reporting to the Police) but in this case alerts potential victims. Some areas of the city also have volunteer-run community watch cars patrolling in the evenings.