The LSU Police Department is using Twitter and Facebook to enlist the help of students, parents, faculty and staff in catching criminals.
LSUPD has seen results since it began using social media to push information when it revamped its website in January, said Sgt. Blake Tabor, LSUPD spokesman.
Tabor said the previous crime alerts tab showed “people of interest” but wasn’t used as frequently.
The new format for crime alerts is part of the “if you SEE something, SAY something” campaign.
Tabor said the crime alert system is a way for LSUPD to alert the University community of “people we need help seeking out.”
Tabor said LSUPD decided to use Facebook and Twitter because of the increasing number of people who frequently use social media.
The investigation is inactive when the text is struck through on the LSUPD website, Tabor said.
The crime alerts tab has been used multiple times throughout the semester and listed three inactive cases on the website as of Wednesday afternoon.
The website posted information Feb. 2 looking for Jeremy Turner, 32, of 920 North Dorgenois Drive in New Orleans.
Turner was caught on tape leaving the School of Music on Nov. 30 with a violin valued at $15,000, according to an LSUPD news release.
LSUPD, the Denham Springs Police Department and the Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole located the suspect April 15.
The crime alerts also listed a theft on March 30. LSUPD arrested Daniel Williams, of 3582 Main St. in Zachary, on March 31, according to the website.
“Thank you LSU for quick information that led to the positive identification of this suspect,” the website states.
Tabor said crime alerts have led to the department receiving multiple phone calls providing information on the suspects.
“A lot of the calls we field do assist in the apprehension of these people,” he said.
Tabor said while safety ultimately lies with the police department, having a proactive approach from everyone on campus will have a positive impact.
Tabor said with more than 30,000 people on campus, LSUPD severely decreases its chances of finding a suspect without the use of crime alerts.
Tabor said the department is working to provide more information on how long the investigation took on the website.
Amanda Maurin, kinesiology junior, said using social media is a good idea, but she doesn’t think many students know about the pages.
“In the Union they have TVs. They could advertise there,” Maurin said.
John Alty, accounting freshman, said crime alerts could be improved by pushing out the alerts on a bigger scale, with more people knowing about it.
 
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Contact Celeste Ansley at [email protected]