Police use tips from social media to solve crimes

Tweeting, sharing and commenting, these are all common terms someone uses for social media. Pueblo police are using sites like Twitter and Facebook to help solve crimes.

Since October, Pueblo police said they have solved dozens of crimes because of people leaving tips on their social media sites.

It has helped police identify one woman who is accused of stealing eye glass frames at the Southern Colorado Eye Associates office on March 20. Police said a woman was caught on camera stealing about $3,500 in merchandise.

“It’s a pretty sickening feeling thinking that one of your patients would do this,” Zach Hofmann said. He is a network administrator for the eye office.

Hofmann gave police the surveillance tape. The Pueblo Police Department then put it on its social media pages. Officers said even though the woman has been identified, they won’t release the name because the case is still under investigation.

Police Cpt. Kenny Rider said the police using social media is their way of keeping up with the future.

“We realize that’s just the way the world communicates now. We realize that’s the way for us to talk and reach out to the community,” he said.

Pueblo police have received more than 100 tips this week for crimes they have asked help for on their social media pages.