 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 reporter Andrea McCarren was able to find out first hand how the new system works. In the event of an armed robbery, for example, a business owner will call 911 to alert authorities, and within minutes of that call, information on the crime and the suspect(s) will be sent to a registered cell phone user.
The current economic crisis has made for a disconcerting time for business owners. Georgetown business owner, Anna Fuhrman has been a victim of crime, not only once but six times. "We've had robberies during the day; we've had many break-ins; we've had shoplifting on an almost daily basis," Fuhrman said.
Another business owner, Ed Solomon says he too has been targeted, as well as other neighborhood businesses.
"There was a store that was robbed near my store two years ago," Solomon said. "Three days later we received wanted posters with a description. I said, My God, three days later, this isn't right. We can do better than that."
As a result, Solomon and others have pushed hard to get a text alert system put into place; one that will deliver information about violent crimes minutes after they occur.
| » Sign up for text alerts |
Patrick Burke, assistant chief for D.C. police, says the new text alert system "basically gets the lookout beyond the police department to anyone" and "opens up the eyes and the ears of the entire community." City officials gathered in Georgetown to spread the word about the system, which is getting an overwhelming welcome from business owners.
Salon owner, James Packard, says she welcomes the new system because she is now able to know if her "employees are safe" and "what's going on."
There is no charge to sign up for the alerts. In addition, one does not have to be a resident of D.C. to sign up. In fact, a non-D.C. resident signed up because he wanted to know what was going on in the D.C. neighborhood where his daughter works.
ABC 7 News to leave comments on news stories.