Neighbors app has become a crime-fighting tool in Cobb County.
The Neighbors app was created to allow residents to synchronize their security cameras to a network and anonymously share information, photos, videos and comments on the portal, according to a county statement.
Each user is assigned a “neighbor number.”
Residents can connect with their local police department and help solve crimes that are happening in their backyards by providing information, photos and videos to detectives.
Cobb residents have complete control over what is shared and with whom.
Only footage shared by the user on the platform can be viewed by police.
Here is how to sign up:
- Download the Neighbors by Ring app on your mobile device. You do not have to have a camera to sign up. If you do have a camera but it is not a Ring camera, it will still work with the app.
- Open the app, and choose "sign up" to open a new account.
- Enter your address. A pin will drop to indicate your residence.
- Enter your name and email address. Create a password. Verify your neighborhood, but allow your location information to be shared. Or choose "not now" if you would like to do that later.
- You will be added to a "neighborhood" that has a three-mile radius. Explore the app where you can update the alerts you receive, tailor your alert area to better suit you, comment or post information that is relevant to you and your neighbors and stay up-to-date on such matters as crime, suspicious activity and lost pets.
The Cobb County Police Department has a team of Public Information Officers and detectives who have been trained to use the Neighbors Portal.
That means users often will see communications from the Cobb County Police Department on this app.
If a detective posts about an incident and asks for footage or information and users have information to add to that investigation, Cobb residents can assist the police with their investigation through this app.
Information: CobbCounty.org/public-safety/police
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