Tracking crime in your community

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Alert citizens are the best crime fighting tool law enforcement can ask for. Just ask Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl.

"We can get them to be paying attention and to call us if they see things that are suspicious and ultimately if there is a crime pattern emerge to become partners with the Police Department and helping to solve that crime pattern," Chief Biehl said of the unique relationship.

Knowing just how important the community's involvement is, Dayton Police have started pushing information out to residents through a new online reporting site.

Anyone can sign up to receive e-mails or text messages, on a 24-hour basis, about crime trends happening in their area.

"That is not having to seek the information out, it's pushing the information out, to citizens who want to be informed".

It's easy to sign up, just go to daytonohiopolice.com and click on crime maps. Then follow the instructions on the screen as prompted and select how you would prefer to be notified.

Police said taking the proactive step and signing up, could go a long way in preventing future crime.

"We want citizens to be our partner in solving crime and more importantly preventing crime," added Chief Biehl. "They can't do that if they don't have the basic information about what's going on".