Video: Cops use YouTube, Twitter to catch crooks

>>> along with good, old fashioned shoe leather a growing number of police departments across the country are turning to a new modern day weapon for fighting crime and finding suspected criminals. think of it as the video equivalent of a most wanted poster on youtube . here's nbc justice correspondent pete williams .

>> reporter: in akron, ohio police want to know who was using stolen credit cards to buy things at local stores. so this week they posted this surveillance video on youtube , hoping to generate tips. it's part of a growing trend seeking public help by putting videos online hoping someone will see a familiar face. philadelphia police tried it after a woman riding on a city bus beat up a passenger. just two days after the video was posted investigators got a tip that led to an arrest. authorities in philadelphia say since starting their video villains program a year ago they've used youtube and other social media to help solve 85 crimes. it's the latest example of using the media to reach out for tips. first came posters and newspaper articles. then crime stoppers segments on local television . now social media , twitter, facebook, and more and more youtube . a survey by the international association of chiefs of police shows that nearly 90% of the nation's law enforcement agencies use social media of some kind to seek public help. youtube is coming on strong. many agencies have now set up their own youtube channels and surveillance videos from crime scenes are internet ready. police in montgomery county , maryland are convinced it's effective. they use the internet tool of youtube to investigate a crime apparently organized on the internet, a flash mob robbing a convenience store .

>> people in the community will view the video and then help us identify people in the video. but more than that it also helped investigators see who was responsible for doing what specific acts.

>> reporter: and videos can be posted instantly getting the word out quickly in helping to stop criminals before they can attack again. pete williams , nbc news, washington.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/48088102/

bo ryan the last waltz columbine earth day activities mel gibson splunk dark shadows