PHOENIX -- Convenience retailer Circle K has launched a "Crime Busters" social media program, and it is hoping that Facebook users will help make it a success. On a new Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CircleKAZCrimeBusters, Circle K Arizona posts surveillance pictures from crimes committed in the chain's stores by shoplifters and robbers.
"With 800 million Facebook users across the country, and who knows how many here in Arizona, being able to use the community to stop crime and ID suspects--what a great idea," crime prevention consultant Rollie Trayte told MyFoxPhoenix.com.
"There's great video. The people are imminently recognizable with today's technology," Trayte told the news outlet.
According to the Facebook page: "Help us make Arizona and Nevada a safer place. We need your help to identify people suspected of crimes at Arizona retailers .... The state of Arizona averages millions of dollars in retail theft every year. Help us reduce this number by helping us identify the suspected criminals in the photos on this page. (Please remember: All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.)"
It added, "Circle K will identify repeat offenders to police. Circle K will post pictures on Facebook to help identify repeat offenders to solve crimes--we will supply case numbers, pictures, spread sheet and video to the police. Circle K will reimburse crimestopper programs (such as Silent Witness and 88 Crime) for rewarding individuals who identify suspect and lead to a felony arrest & indictment. Crime stopper programs provide several methods of anonymously submitting a tip--telephone number, web submission and/or text messaging--to encourage citizens in the community to give vital information that can be helpful to law enforcement in fighting crime. Tipsters are always anonymous and are eligible to receive a cash reward if the information leads to an arrest or grand jury indictment of a felony offender."
Trayte is a former Circle K executive in loss prevention, and is now a loss prevention consultant. He thinks the idea is solid and will produce results. "Why not use that technology and combine it with social networks to be able to fight crime or arrest suspects?" he asked.
If a person recognizes a picture of a suspect on the Facebook page, there are options on how give a tip anonymously--including contacting Silent Witness, a nonprofit organization that is a member of Crime Stoppers USA and Crime Stoppers International.
Trayte also is a Silent Witness board member. He said that he thinks the Circle K Crime Busters Facebook page will help reach an even more diverse group of people.
Laval, Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.'s retail network is comprised of 5,795 convenience stores, 4,128 of which include motor fuel dispensing, operated by 13 business units, including nine in the United States covering 43 states and the District of Columbia (primarily under the Circle K banner), and four in Canada covering all 10 provinces (mainly under the Couche-Tard and Mac's banners).
Couche-Tard's Arizona Region, based in Phoenix, has approximately 640 Circle K and other stores in Arizona, Nevada and Utah.
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