Surprise Police to use app to provide residents with real-time crime info

PHOENIX — The Surprise Police Department announced last week that it will use an app to deliver real-time crime and safety information to local residents.

The app is called Neighbors and was created by home security company Ring.

People can download the free app, choose their neighborhood and customize the geographic location for which they want to receive alerts.

Users can post and share text, photo and video updates, including from home security devices.

”Engaging and partnering with our community are some of the top priorities for the Surprise Police Department,” Police Chief Terry Young said in a press release.

“The free Ring Neighbors platform allows us to do both of these things in an app that our community members can have on their phones. We plan to utilize the Neighbors app to share crime alerts with our residents, monitor concerns that they share, and work together to solve crimes occurring in the community.”

According to the release, the app has “millions” of users and has been used to catch package thieves and stop burglaries.

“We’re excited to have the Surprise Police Department join Neighbors to keep their community up-to-date on local crime and safety information,” Ring founder Jamie Siminoff said in the release.

“Over the past few years we have learned that, when neighbors, the Ring team and law enforcement all work together, we can create safer communities.”

Follow @KTAR923