If you see a crime, or suspect a crime being committed, don’t take the law into your own hands.
That from Sault Police upon being informed of a local Facebook post showing a man pursuing another man suspected of attempting to break into a residence.
“We understand that there’s frustration when people are victimized and they have items stolen or damaged,” said Lincoln Louttit, Sault Police spokesperson, speaking to SooToday Monday.
“We totally understand that, but we would never endorse anyone taking part in vigilante behaviour. Our advice would be if you see somebody committing a crime, call the police.”
That’s partly for your own safety, Louttit said.
“Do not confront them because you don't know this person, you don’t know if they’re armed or what sort of state of mind they’re in.”
As for individuals or groups patrolling neighbourhoods in their vehicles or on foot with their eyes peeled for criminal behaviour such as thefts, break and enters or vandalism, Louttit said “if it’s some sort of neighbourhood watch, then that’s great, people looking out for one another and monitoring their neighbourhoods.”
But again, don’t pursue any suspect on foot or by vehicle, police say.
“They should not be confronting anybody they feel is potentially breaking the law. Please call the police,” Louttit emphasized.
“If you witness somebody, call it in, report it to the police. If you feel they’re trying to get away and you’re helping police by watching where they go, that can be potentially helpful, but don’t confront these individuals... you're not sure what they could be capable of. Please give us a call.”
Contacting police, Louttit said, “not only allows officers to respond, based on availability, but also allows us to track these incidents.”
The statistics gathered through incident tracking, Louttit said, enables police to better strategize as to where and when to step up their patrols.
“The danger with some of the social media stuff is that people are reporting it on social media and never calling police, so we don’t get to know about it. The chief spoke at the last Police Services Board meeting about developing some dynamic patrols and using the data to increase patrols in certain areas, so if you are a victim of a crime and don’t call and report it, we won’t know about it. We’re not monitoring social media looking for potential reports of criminal activity… (but) we can analyze data.”
“It needs to be stressed, people need to call the police to report it,” Louttit said.
“Social media has an interesting dynamic. It’s great for information sharing but when it comes to criminal activity we find it creates an increase in anxiety in the community. The stuff that is posted there is not verified. Anybody can post whatever they want and we understand that’s their prerogative but when it comes to criminal activity we urge people to contact us.”
Louttit also emphasized “we do not accept reports via social media. That’s not an official police report.”
Concerned citizens need to call and speak with somebody at the Police Services Building or use the online reporting mechanism which, Louttit said, is in the process of being enhanced.
There is also, of course 9-1-1.
The other part to all of this, Louttit said, is “potential assault charges... potential liabilities that come with taking the law into your own hands.”