Crime stoppers group launched

Group aims help police

Boost by success of Jávea 'Cat' burglar arrest last week

AMATEUR sleuths are invited to join a social media group to become the ‘eyes and ears’ of the police on the Marina Alta and help fight crime.

Boosted by the success of bringing a notorious Jáveabased cat burglar to justice, the group - which quickly grew to over 700 members - has decided to keep working.

Rebranded as Marina Alta Crime Stop on Facebook, it is looking to help the authorities in the communities of Jávea, Moraira, Teulada, Benissa and Benitatxell.

Administered by ‘Freedom and Justice’, or ‘Libertad y Justicia’, their aim is to share information about suspected criminal activity amongst members and the authorities.

In a press release, they said they hope it will be able to evolve into a general crime stopping group.

“This group began with a particular problem, the arrest of a particular person - it looks like we’ve succeeded and hope it’s a lasting success.

“Crime will always be a problem and we need a group where we can communicate and share information about criminal activity in our area; we need a group where we can collect information to help the Guardia Civil arrest and prosecute these criminals.”

The group aims to ‘take responsibility’ for what is going on in communities, whether it is drug trafficking, gender violence or any other form of crime.

“We need to do what we can to keep our towns and cities safe; by participating, it will help others and you and your family,” its administrators said.

“Don’t just be a spectator; be an activist. Be our eyes and ears and report illegal activities here. We will collect them, report them and hopefully, make a difference.”

One member responded that this sounded like a good idea and a way of helping to cut crime - but warned that people should be aware of things like data protection, the presumption of innocence in law - and the fact ‘we are not professionals... we cannot and should not replace professionals’.