BROWNSBURG -
A number of area police departments are turning to social media to help fight crime.
The pictures on Brownsburg's new Facebook crime tips page are grainy, but the features of the two men in them are easily identifiable. They are still photos taken from surveillance video from a Brownsburg convenience store.
"These guys here, they broke into numerous cars in an apartment complex," explained Brownsburg Police Detective Jeff Klayer about the men in the photo.
Brownsburg police hope you recognize them and they're using Facebook to test the waters.
"You can get the word out instantly and people can give you feedback directly, within minutes," said Klayer.
Brownsburg isn't the first police department to figure out the power of Facebook when it comes to fighting crime.
"Social media is bigger now than it ever has been before," Avon Police Det. Brian Nugent told Eyewitness News a few weeks ago.
Last month, Avon launched its own crime tips page. They already have almost 2,000 followers and have solved several cases through tips from the page.
Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana uses Facebook, too, and IMPD also posts cases on a Facebook page called "IndyUnsolved."
"It's another tool. Obviously, it makes it...it's easier to do our job," said Klayer of his department's move to embrace Facebook in solving crime.
The cases so far in Brownsburg are the kind that could happen to anyone. Crimes like car break-ins, stolen purses, wallets, and shoplifting.
"People like to get on there and see what's going on in their community," said Klayer.
If you want to tip off Brownsburg police about something or someone you see on their page, police say an email is the best way to go, instead of posting the tip right on the Facebook crime tips page.
"Potentially, the suspect could see it," explained Klayer.
Police don't want that, they just want more eyes looking at pictures already on their page and the future ones to come, so they can have more Facebook posts that say solved about the cases they've posted.
