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Police Turn To Social Sites To Solve Crimes

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Mar 6, 2009 9:20 am US/Eastern

Police Turn To Social Sites To Solve Crimes

BOCA RATON, Fla. (CBS) ― It's not just families learning about social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

Some police departments are opening accounts on sites like Facebook and Twitter, encouraging thousands to join and share information with them that they hope can lead to arrests.

South Florida police departments say that tips on crimes can sometimes be gleaned from photos and content on social networking web sites.

"This is just another tool in terms of getting the information out there, keeping the public safe and keeping the public informed," said Mark Economou, spokesperson for the Boca Raton Police Department.

At a Piano Showcase store in Florida, a thief stole a television set that was on display and the robber was caught on electronic surveillance cameras.

"A person, went back to the website to look for it (the video). The video is up there and they said, 'Hey, I do know that person,'" Economou said.
 
The anonymous tip came from the posting of Boca Town Center video cameras  for others to see, and it helped lead to a positive identification, CBS station WFOR-TV reported. Police got further information on the suspect from MySpace accounts and made the arrest.

Mark Alan Leszczynski, owner of Piano Showcase, was glad his television display was returned. "It is phenomenal that they are utilizing it,"  Leszcynski said.

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