A new crime prevention tool was launched on Wednesday with the hope that knowledge is power whenit comes to fighting crime.
After homes and cars were burglarized in Jamie Petree's neighborhood, she decided to start ablock watch, 10TV's Tino Ramos reported.
"We had a couple of burglaries and a couple of break-ins to different cars," Petree said. "It'scitizens looking out their window. It's the dog walker who sees patterns of people."
Petree and other residents throughout Franklin County will have a new tool to track crime.
The Web site is called Crime Reports, and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office is using it toshow residents when and where crimes are happening.
"You'll be able to see the crimes that are occurring across the street, so to speak," saidFranklin County Sheriff's Corp. Zach Scott. "That is happening in a township that could affect youin Columbus, or that's happening in Columbus that could affect you in the township."
The Web site lets users type in their area and a map displays recent crimes, Ramos reported.
The site can be customized to alert users of specific crimes and is updated within 24 hoursof when a crime occurs.
Petree is looking forward to arming her neighbors with the information.
"You can arm yourselves with a weapon, so to speak, and find the information out yourself,"Petree said. "This gives the public an opportunity to get involved and see what's going on."
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