It seems like everyday we are inundated with riveting videos of the latest smash and grab at a big retailer, or a shooting at a public event, school or mall, and or thousands of foreign nationals crossing our border illegally.  Social media, video on demand, and being globally connected has changed our world completely. Graphic and immediate images from around the globe,  impact how we perceive crime, how individual criminals find each other online and join a "swarm" to loot an upscale retailer.  It also changes how law enforcement agencies use technology to investigate and prosecute criminals.

This week's broadcast focuses on the psychological impact of being globally connected.  Terrorists no longer just plant a bomb and run away.  Rather, they film themselves in the act so individuals around the world are instilled with the fear and reality of the power of terrorism.

Large scale smash and grab rings often begin by a posting on social media and hundreds of individuals will show up to stores like Nordstroms or Best Buy to create a "swarm" of looting. Earlier this year over 80 individuals showed up at Nordstroms to loot and devastate the store  as Security Personnel had no choice but to watch.  The entire event was over in under 5 minutes.  The criminals were recruited online using social media.  These criminal activities are far different than organized crime where criminals had personal relationships which law enforcement could build a case and prosecute.

Using social media to recruit individuals to join a smash and grab operation means that the individuals will not know each others names or contact information and they are most often only together for under 20 minutes and quickly disperse.  Impromptu mass criminal operations are difficult for law enforcement to investigate since most often the criminals don't know each other and have no obvious connection except for responding to a social media announcement.

This week we look at the power and challenges of social media in crime and crime solving.