By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A young Berwick brother-and-sister team has launched a phone app that reports crimes in real-time.
Like many good ideas, the free CrimeChat app began with a chat over the dinner table.
Darien and Karissa Narain and their family were talking about car break-ins in their normally-quiet neighbourhood.
“One problem was we hadn’t heard about (the break-ins) until two weeks later.”
The Narains’ solution was a platform to connect neighbours in a suburb with real-time reports of local crimes, as well as a chat forum for safety issues.
It also has an SOS function to alert loved ones if the user is in danger.
In its infancy, the app has about 50 subscribers. So far, reported incidents included stolen bikes and car break-ins across a range of South-East suburbs.
The incident posts are “user-generated” – which has some pros and cons, Mr Narain said.
It allows for rapid reporting but how do you ensure the reports are real and accurate?
One of the safeguards is that users are verified through their mobile numbers to prevent robo-hacks interfering with the feed, Mr Narain said.
The app was actively moderated to shut down inappropriate or irrelevant posts and users, he said.
Its closest relative is the Facebook site Casey Crime Page – which has a massive following and lively community forum.
CrimeChat had the advantage not being clogged with clutter like typical Facebook feeds, Mr Narain said.
Mr Narain, a recent law graduate, moved with his family from South Africa in 2005.
He said safety was more troubling in his homeland where high fences and security guards outside gated communities were commonplace.
“It’s not at the same extreme level over here, but it could get worse if we don’t deal with it.
“We wanted to be proactive, be part of the solution.”
Casey councillor Rosalie Crestani successfully moved for the council to meet with the CrimeChat creators in coming weeks.
She backed the collaborative approach of using a social app to reduce crime.
“There are some similar methods of communication but there is really no other competitor in this space.
“At the very least, CrimeChat would increase communication to enhance neighbourhood unity and strengthening.”
Cr Crestani said despite crime rate drops in Casey in the past year, family violence, theft, home invasions and gang violence remained a concern.
“I believe, that if families are strengthened and their associated support structures, then this will have a flow on effect and reduce other crimes.”
