A screenshot of the Lower Saucon Township Police Department’s new Crimewatch website as it appears on a desktop or laptop computer.
Criminals, beware. The Lower Saucon Township Police Department has a new website–part of the Crimewatch online network developed specifically for Pennsylvania law enforcement–that will make it easier for police to share information about crime and easier for residents to receive it, share it and respond to it. The hope is that over time, tips received via this new platform will help police solve more cases, keep residents advised about road work, reunite owners with their lost pets and much more.
Over the past week the department has publicized several incidents and upcoming events such as National Night Out via the website, which anyone can subscribe to to receive public safety-related and other notifications. The site also allows users to submit tips to police, and there is a free app available for download to both Android and iOS devices.
Lower Saucon Township is the first municipality in Northampton County to have a Crimewatch website, although a number of communities in Bucks and other southeastern Pennsylvania counties have developed networks which are organized into county groups users can also subscribe to.
Lower Saucon Township Chief of Police Tom Barndt (FILE PHOTO)
“Working in partnership with the community we can keep everyone informed of current events, proactively prevent crime, support victim recovery and hold offenders accountable,” Barndt states in his welcome message on the new Crimewatch website.
“This new website is the perfect entry point for establishing better police and public partnerships,” he said in a news release about its launch last week. “Technology gives us the opportunity to communicate with the public, and the anonymity of the tech avoids the potential risks of sharing information with the police.”
He noted that “several police departments throughout the region are having great success using this technology.”
If you a resident or someone who’s simply interested in keeping up-to-date on Lower Saucon police and public safety news, Crimewatch will allow you to do the following:
- Receive free email alerts about crime committed in certain areas
- Submit tips to local law enforcement
- View recent arrests and “most wanted” lists (if available)
- File a right-to-know request
- Share information with others via social media
- Connect with resources and services
For more information and to get started, be sure to visit LowerSauconPolice.org and create an account.