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REAL LIFE NEWS: DUMB CRIMINALS AND FACEBOOK

by Hazed

Two stories this week that combine criminals with Facebook.

First we have clever cops using the social networking site to aid in their search for felons. Police in Conroe, Tx has been using Facebook for a couple of months, and their new Facebook friends are already helping them to catch criminals.

Sergeant Joe Smart says that the Conroe police have been using its Facebook page to profile suspects and criminals. For example, they've posted details of a woman accused of stealing credit cards, a masked gunman caught on tape robbing a local store, and a suspected computer thief.

"We put the video on our Facebook page and within a week, a citizen appeared and said, 'Hey, I know who that is,'" he said. Facebook has also helped them gather leads on other open cases, as well as communicate info to the townsfolk about the police force, tips on crime prevention, and maps showing crime hotspots.

If you want to see what they're doing, search on Facebook for Conroe Police Department.

Source: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8271766

It's not just police that use Facebook, though. Criminals do, too. Sometimes for stupid reasons. Victor Burgos, a wanted fugitive, posted messages on his Facebook page taunting the police: "Catch me if you can, I'm in Brooklyn".

You can guess what happened next. They caught him. In Brooklyn. Sitting at a computer with his Facebook page open.

He's now been hauled before a judge, and his Facebook page has been deleted.

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/07/28/2011-07-28_catch_me_if_oh_youre_here.html

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