NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WVEC) – Local law enforcement are trying to keep neighborhoods safe, but they say they need the public's help.
They're encouraging neighbors to download the Nextdoor app.
It lets individuals know what's going on in your neighborhood, and potentially prevent future crimes.
The Newport News Police Department, Hampton Police Division and York-Poquoson Sheriff's office are all having success using the app.
Nextdoor is a private social network for neighborhoods. The app allows neighbors to communicate with their neighbors and community to find out what's going on... next door.
Kristi Deeley lives in the Menchville section of Newport News. She started using the app about four years ago.
Deeley said police keep them informed about so much, whether it's about recent crimes, or just sharing safety tips. She said the app also helped recently during a couple break-ins.
“The victims said, 'hey this is what happened to keep an eye out for this and that,' and someone else said this happened at our house,” Deeley said. “So we helped each other out and gathered information to deal with these issues.”
Since November 2014, the number of people using next door in Newport News, Hampton and York-Poquoson have increased by nearly 700%.
Since June 2015, the number of people who use the app in Newport News has increased by nearly 900%, nearly 1,500% in Hampton since November 2014 and nearly 300% in York-Poquoson since January 2016.
Almost 40,000 people use Nextdoor among the three jurisdictions, and a good chunk of them say they feel more informed since Newport News, Hampton, and York-Poquoson started using the app to communicate with the community.
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