MODESTO, Calif. -- Modesto, Calif., convenience stores, minimarkets and gas stations will be able to keep each other and police informed about crime trends and other concerns through e-mails under a plan outlined this month, according to reports in the Modesto Bee.
The businesses and police would communicate through an e-mail distribution list. Police could send businesses the latest crime trends, and businesses could send each other and police pictures from surveillance cameras of crime suspects.
On Dec. 22, about 15 business owners met with acting Police [image-nocss] Chief Mike Harden and other police officers. The businesses had requested the meeting because of their concerns about crime and police response times to petty offenses, such as shoplifting and beer thefts, according to the report.
"It was better than we expected," Paul Grewel, who organized the meeting and owns an ampm store on Yosemite Boulevard, told the newspaper. "It was very constructive."
Sgt. Brian Findlen said his department is collecting contact information and e-mail addresses from business owners. He said he believes the program can be up and running fairly soon. "We want this to occur quickly," he said.
Before the e-mail distribution list debuts, Findlen said crime-prevention officers will meet with the convenience store, minimarket and gas station owners to provide them with crime-prevention tips and verify they need to be on the list.
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