From France24 · · 1m
French Police Use Social Media to Track Looters
French police identify looters using social media footage and security cameras after weekend riots.
In brief
French police identify looters using social media footage and security cameras after weekend riots. French police used social media to identify four youths who looted shops during recent Paris riots. Originally reported by France24.
French police use social media
French police are using social media to identify looters who shattered shops during last weekend's unrest in Paris.
“We are working the social networks... then we go over all that with our own tools, to see if the crimes seen on social media correspond with the crimes we're studying”
Special operations room
An officer in a special operations room with 10 screens tracked four youths who looted shops near Paris.
Social media clues
Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram provide clues for police to find victims and looters after riots.
“Maybe a victim talks about a crime but doesn't go to the police station to report it, they're in shock, they wonder whether it's worth going, but they post it on social media”
Geolocation checks
Police use geolocation to find victims and looters after social media posts during Paris riots.
200 investigators deployed
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu ordered more than 200 investigators to work on identifying riot looters.
Looters arrested
A 19-year-old man in Vienne was arrested after stealing €4,500 worth of items during Paris riots.
“He admitted stealing some of the items from a store and said he found a bag full of items in the street that he picked up”
The takeaway
French police used social media to identify four youths who looted shops during recent Paris riots.
