Thursday, February 27, 2014

Rialto Police Dept. Partners With Private Social Network To Communicate With Residents « CBS Los Angeles

Rialto Police Dept. Partners With Private Social Network To Communicate With Residents « CBS Los Angeles

RIALTO (CBSLA.com) — The Rialto Police Department announced Tuesday it will integrate a private social network that will allow officers to communicate online with the city’s neighborhoods.
The purpose of the free website, Nextdoor, will be for residents and police to be able to work together toimprove safety and strengthen neighborhood watch efforts.
“We have always invested in innovative ways to increase safety for our residents,” Rialto Police Chief William Farrar said in a statement. “With Nextdoor, we can help empower neighbors to keep their community safe and connected, and give them the ability to collaborate on virtual neighborhood watch efforts.”
Rialto residents can join to share information, including neighborhood public safety issues, community events and activities, local services and even lost pets.
Six Rialto neighborhoods have already started Nextdoor websites.
Neighborhoods establish and self-manage their own Nextdoor accounts, while the police department does not have access residents’ websites, contact information or content.  Information shared on Nextdoor is password protected and cannot be accessed by search engines.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Cellphone GPS Helps Nab 3 Robbery Suspects in Rialto.... KABC News, Feb. 13, 2014...

Cellphone GPS helps nab 3 robbery suspects in Rialto

Thursday, February 13, 2014
A cellphone's GPS helped lead to the arrests of three armed suspects following a robbery spree in two cities Wednesday night, officials said.

Rialto police say the three suspects robbed people at knifepoint. Their first victim was a college student walking on Eucla Avenue near Arrow Highway in San Dimas. Lt. Andy Karol said the suspects grabbed the victim's backpack, which contained his laptop computer, cellphone and other personal items.
Before fleeing in a white Scion XB, they yelled out their street gang, according to investigators. The suspects -- identified as 19-year-old Mark Fernandez of San Bernardino, 18-year-old Jeffery Henriquez of Los Angeles and 18-year-old Roberto Morales of Los Angeles -- then hit the road, unaware that one of the items in their possession was tracking them.
"At this point, the victim is working with the LASO detectives since he has a location GPS on his cellphone," said Karol.
The trio's next known crime happens in a Ralphs parking lot in Rialto. A security guard called 911 after seeing a father with his two young children dragged out of his car, placed in the suspects' white Scion, and robbed. The suspects took the victim's wedding ring and other valuables.
Ten minutes later, less than two miles away, the suspects hit again. This time, it was at the parking lot of the Farmer Boys restaurant.
"There is a gentleman by himself, sitting in his vehicle waiting for his girlfriend to get off work, and he gets robbed at knifepoint," said Karol.
Minutes later, nearly out of gas, the suspects stopped at a Chevron station. Police quickly moved in and made the arrests. The stolen goods were recovered.
Authorities believe there may be more victims. Anyone with information was asked to contact the Rialto Police Department at (909)820-2550, or the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, San Dimas Station, at (909)450-2700.

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