LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Lexington police launched lexIDme.com in June and within 24 hours, received a tip from the public that led them to a suspect.
The website is where police post surveillance images of suspects in cases where police have exhausted their leads, in hopes the public can help to identify them, according to Public Information Officer Brenna Angel.
Since launching the site this summer, about 25 percent of suspects posted to lexIDme have been identified, Angel said.
"That's 25 percent of cases cleared that we weren't able to have cleared otherwise," she said. "So anything is a help."
The cases are usually minor crimes, she said, like shoplifting or personal theft. She also hopes the site could be a tool to deter potential thieves.
"We're hoping that people will get the message that, you know, cameras are everywhere and they capture a lot of things," she said, "and unfortunately they do capture crimes that occur, but
if we can use that video to our advantage, we're going to do it."
Tips can submitted through a form on the site. Each case includes a picture of the suspect and a short description of the crime.
Tips can also be submitted by calling the police department at 859-258-3600 or anonymously through Bluegrass Crime Stoppers, http://www.bluegrasscrimestoppers.com/sitemenu.aspx?ID=710&
