NYPD cops use WhatsApp group chats for faster response to retail thefts
NEW YORK February 7, 2024— NYPD officers in the Bronx are exploring unorthodox methods of cracking down on retail crime, including giving store owners the ability to contact officers directly to share photos and videos of thefts and robberies, the New York Post reported.
The move comes after local business owners protested a slow NYPD response to shoplifting incidents when they called 911, according to the report. Officers have also set up a WhatsApp group chat with local business owners where they can share photo and video evidence.
Even though the initiative has only been in place for a few weeks, business owners in the Bronx report that being able to directly communicate with police officers has led to arrests.
“One of my colleagues caught a guy shoplifting and instead of calling 911, he called the crime prevention team, and they were there in five minutes,” grocer Eddie Vargas told the Post.
The NYPD did not address questions from the New York Post about the program but encouraged the public to report crimes.
“NYPD officers, including those assigned as Crime Prevention Officers, routinely offer their business cards to community members and business owners to enhance the relationship between officers and the communities they serve,” a spokesperson for the NYPD said in a statement. “While business cards provide a direct line to officers, the public is reminded to dial 911 in the event of an emergency, such as a crime in progress.”
