SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Scottsdale Police Department is warning residents not to try and "catch a predator" on their own without the help of police.
The agency said Wednesday it has recently investigated two incidents in which teenagers chatted with adults online and set up meetups to confront the adults.
"This activity is very dangerous for anyone to do on their own and, in most cases, does not lead to the successful prosecution of the alleged 'child predator' suspect," Scottsdale police wrote in a statement.
Vigilantes attempting to lure suspected pedophiles in the style of "To Catch a Predator" have been reported throughout the country. A few years ago, NBC News reviewed several Facebook groups that documented this type of vigilantism and shamed people they alleged to be predators.
Scottsdale police said if a citizen comes across online activity that appears to be predatory, then they should contact local police. Community members could face criminal charges if they try to initiate sting operations that aim to trap suspected predators, police said.
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