Southington Police Embracing New Crime Reporting App

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The Southington Police Department will be "stepping up" its relationship with residents through the use of a new program.

Neighbors Public Safety Service is a free application developed to work with Ring devices and available to all residents to provide and share "real-time information within our community," police said.

Resident do not need to own a Ring device to use the Neighbors app, place said.

The Neighbors app allows members of the community to share safety information, to send and receive alerts about safety concerns ranging from missing persons and public safety announcements, to information on crimes like vehicle thefts and burglaries, polices said.

"The Neighbors app is simple to use, provides real-time information and keeps citizens in our community alerted, almost instantaneously, to activity surrounding their homes and in town," police said. "Information posted on Neighbors is anonymous and targets the general area without disclosing the exact location for the safety of users.

Police said the Neighbors app is supplemental to and does not replace calling the 911 system.

"Significant public safety concerns and a crime in progress should first be called in to police," authorities said.

Important Citizen Alerts and requests for assistance will be sent using a standardized SPD Icon reminding citizens to call in suspicious activity, while also encouraging the sharing of information and video from enabled devices, police said.

"As a Police Department, the hope is to partner with our best asset, our community, to enhance safety and reduce crime in Southington," police said.

See more on the process here.