Recently, the Owensboro Police Department began using social media sites to
further advance our crime solving ability.

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According to Officer Michael Hathaway, the Public Information Office,  is posting photographs and video clips to the Owensboro Police Department website, Facebook page, and twitter account, with two goals in mind:
"The first goal is to increase our working partnership with the community by expanding our ability to solicit information to help solve crimes. This, in turn, keeps Owensboro safer as we are able to stop criminals once they have been identified.
Secondly, we want to continually inform our citizens as to the types of criminal activity actively occurring in our community. By allowing our citizens to have first-hand, up to date, factual information, we can empower the community to be more aware of particular criminal trends.
Since we began this process in December 2011, the community has provided tips that have culminated in solving three separate cases.
The first release involved a theft case from the Owensboro Medical HealthSystem gift shop. A female was observed taking a diaper bag from the shelf and walking out without paying. She was later identified through our website and charged with Theft by Unlawful Taking-Shoplifting, a Class A Misdemeanor.
The second case involved three suspects using a stolen credit card at Walmart to make purchases. The photographs were posted on our website. Two subjects were identified, and charged with Theft of Property Lost/Mislaid, a Class A Misdemeanor, and Fraudulent Use of Credit Card Under/$500, a Class A Misdemeanor.
A third case took place at Walgreen’s on Frederica Street. A portion of surveillance video was posted on our website relating to a theft. That suspect has also been identified and charged with Theft by Unlawful Taking Under/500, amClass A Misdemeanor.
In all cases, links to our website were posted to facebook and twitter, in order to increase community awareness. Any information regarding future cases can be provided anonymously through the Owensboro-Daviess County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (270) 687-8484.
This expanded use of social media is another crime fighting tool we will continue to utilize as we remain committed to providing the best service possible to our community."

1490 WOMI will, on-air and thru our website and Facebook connections, do all we can to assist the Owensboro Police Department in getting this information to our listeners.

 

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