Predictive analytic software PredPol anticipates future crime based upon past activity . `` We had to try something because we were not being offered more cops , '' said Zach Friend , a crime analyst with the Santa Cruz Police Department . The software was adapted from similar software used to predict earthquake aftershocks . Many police departments still use obsolete technology due to small size and aversion to change . Even so , they depend heavily upon social media to predict crimes .
Predictive analytic software PredPol anticipates future crime based upon past activity . The software was adapted from similar software used to predict earthquake aftershocks . Many police departments still use obsolete technology due to small size and aversion to change . Even so , they depend heavily upon social media to predict crimes .