New site is sort of a YouTube for crime prevention
BELLEVUE, Wash. - A surveillance camera catches a man robbing an Everett Rite Aid pharmacy on Saturday. Running the video on the news works to help police catch the criminals as crooks get recognized, but not all videotaped crimes make the evening news.
Now, a Bellevue company is encouraging businesses hit with petty crimes to post surveillance images on their new Web site, postacrime.com
"Where we can assist police departments, law enforcement and business owners to get the word out on their crimes and possibly use a social justice network to bring people to justice," said David Stone, the founder of postacrime.com.
Think of it as a YouTube for crime.
Anyone can upload digital stills, videos and information about a crime for free. Crimes are searchable by zip code and types of crime.
I found the week-old site populated primarily with FBI and Crimestopper news alerts - like one post warning to be on the lookout for the "Groundhog's Day bandit."
The problem is, the FBI says that bandit was caught two weeks ago. And there's really no way to stop someone from making up a bogus crime and posting the picture of an innocent person.
Posters have to agree the information is truthful, but even if it's not, an Internet law attorney say the Web site is not liable.
"When a user posts information that might be defamatory, since the Web site operator is not the speaker or the publisher, the operator is not liable," said Internet law attorney Derek Newman.
The founders believe businesses know the crimes against them are low priority for a police investigation. They want the crooks caught, and they want surveillance images publicized.
They say an incentive to view the Web site is the reward money.
"Our motto is: 'Stop crime, get cash,' " Stone said. "But we kind of have: 'Do the crime, you might get caught online.' "
Eventually, the Web site's operators say they will rely on the people posting crimes to update their own postings in case someone gets caught.
They will also pull a posting off the Web site if someone claims it is inaccurate.
Now, a Bellevue company is encouraging businesses hit with petty crimes to post surveillance images on their new Web site, postacrime.com
"Where we can assist police departments, law enforcement and business owners to get the word out on their crimes and possibly use a social justice network to bring people to justice," said David Stone, the founder of postacrime.com.
Think of it as a YouTube for crime.
Anyone can upload digital stills, videos and information about a crime for free. Crimes are searchable by zip code and types of crime.
I found the week-old site populated primarily with FBI and Crimestopper news alerts - like one post warning to be on the lookout for the "Groundhog's Day bandit."
The problem is, the FBI says that bandit was caught two weeks ago. And there's really no way to stop someone from making up a bogus crime and posting the picture of an innocent person.
Posters have to agree the information is truthful, but even if it's not, an Internet law attorney say the Web site is not liable.
"When a user posts information that might be defamatory, since the Web site operator is not the speaker or the publisher, the operator is not liable," said Internet law attorney Derek Newman.
The founders believe businesses know the crimes against them are low priority for a police investigation. They want the crooks caught, and they want surveillance images publicized.
They say an incentive to view the Web site is the reward money.
"Our motto is: 'Stop crime, get cash,' " Stone said. "But we kind of have: 'Do the crime, you might get caught online.' "
Eventually, the Web site's operators say they will rely on the people posting crimes to update their own postings in case someone gets caught.
They will also pull a posting off the Web site if someone claims it is inaccurate.