Sydney businesses and police are using an app to communicate to reduce crime in downtown areas.
The Business Watch program connects business owners with law enforcement and quickly relays information over the phone.
“If something happens in a business,” said Cape Breton Regional Police Const. Gary Fraser. “If someone goes into a store and shoplifts or steals, everyone will know about it right away.”
Participants in the program use a free app called Slack, a cross-platform instant messaging service.
Members of a business monitoring group can share photos of shoplifting suspects with each other and with police. (Holly Connors/CBC)
Although no arrests have been made, the incident has contributed to raising the safety awareness of store owners.
Teresa Lowe, Area Manager at Subway, said: “This allows us to get to know our neighbors better, build better relationships, and keep everyone informed about what’s going on around us.” It’s certainly possible to do that now,” he said. “And the whole atmosphere of Charlotte Street has completely changed.”
Reports of vandalism and graffiti in the downtown area earlier this year prompted the police chief to ask Fraser to investigate what could be done to help businesses.
Fraser launched the group in March.
Since then, members have met monthly to hold briefings on topics such as de-escalation, property protection laws and the use of naloxone kits in cases of opioid overdose.
Fraser said more than 30 people attended the recent meeting, including city council members from the area.
Mr Fraser said he was considering setting up a similar group at Sydney’s Mayflower Mall.
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