The Grandview neighborhood in Phonenix suffered a rash of 25 break-ins recently that left residents nervously on edge.
A suburb of Phoenix, Arizona recently got hit with a rash of break-ins and burglaries. Usually residents have a tough time banding together against crime, but this time things turned out very different.
Residents are usually left to fend for themselves – not knowing that their neighbors are experiencing the same danger and not able to fight back.
In Grandview, neighbors used the app Nextdoor to come forward with confirmed cases, spreading awareness and suggesting ways to combat the problem.
One resident posted details about what was stolen and how the burglar fled the scene, enabling neighbors to spot similar sketchy behavior. The Phoenix police department used the information to track down six suspects, all of whom were arrested.
One resident tells us that standard procedure for dealing with crime is now to call 911 and also post details on Nextdoor.
Residents have used the app for everything from meeting their neighbors, to organizing watch groups, to sharing information on the best babysitters and contractors.
Already six people have been arrested in Grandview, and the Phoenix police department has officially teamed up with Nextdoor to fight crime better than they could before.
Think of Nextdoor as a private network just for your neighboorhood, with only verified residents allowed in. Users can make announcements, send/receive private messages, and schedule events. Already over 32,000 neighborhoods are using it.