In an appeal to the community spirit during a season usually marked by generosity and goodwill, the Irving Police Department has turned to social media in hopes of identifying a suspect in a recent theft. In a post that highlighted the contrast of the festive season with criminal behavior, the Irving Police Department shared, "We don't mind pardoning a turkey, but we will never give criminals a pass." The alleged 'grinch' in question is said to have made off with a victim's wallet, using it to fund a shopping spree without the common patience for Black Friday discounts. The public is called upon to aid in capturing the wallet thief, with the reassurance that helpful tipsters will find themselves "on the nice list."
Despite the high spirits and light-hearted wordplay associated with holiday banter, the underlying issue remains serious as personal property crimes can surge during the holiday period, the police department's attempt to use the holiday vernacular aims to bring light to the situation and engage the community in aiding law enforcement. The Irving Police Department's Facebook post, consisting of tongue-in-cheek humor interwoven with a serious call for community vigilance, can be seen in full at Irving PD's official Facebook page.
The local community has already begun to respond to the call with citizens sharing the social media post and expressing their hopes that the suspect will swiftly be found and apprehended by authorities. Meanwhile, the Irving Police Department has not released information regarding the success rate of social media aiding in past investigations, the department remains hopeful that this modern method of community policing will yield positive results and perhaps deter potential criminals with the knowledge that an engaged community is watching. Local businesses, also preparing for the influx of the holiday shopping crowd, have been encouraged to enhance security measures and report any suspicious activities they may observe.
