The Scottsdale Police Department is warning community members not to initiate their own “to catch a predator” investigations online or arrange meet-ups with the alleged predator.

Scottsdale Police has recently investigated two incidents in which teenagers chatted with adults online and set up meetups to confront the adults, according to a press release from the department. 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.

The Scottsdale Police Department conducts regular and thorough investigations to identify and arrest suspected child predators. Last month, Scottsdale Police worked with other local law enforcement partners and arrested 42 suspects over two days. Detectives who work on these cases have been trained specifically to conduct these complicated investigations and bring the best cases to the courts for prosecution.

The best thing someone can do if they encounter online activity they suspect is related to the luring of a minor or other “child predator” conversations or activity is to report it to your local police at once, the release said. Without the proper legal authority, community members could face criminal charges for trying to initiate their own “to catch a predator” operations.

Police warn:

• Do not investigate incidents yourself.
• Do not plan meetups to confront the alleged “child predator.”
• Do not engage in vigilantism or threaten the alleged “child predator” with bodily harm, chase after them in vehicles, hold them against their will or cause damage to their property.
• Do not extort money from the alleged “child predator” to avoid police contact or reporting.