"It gives them ownership,'' he says. "We're not a secret organisation. The more approachable I can be, the better it'll be for the community.''
He had been working in Beach Haven by himself for three years when crime reached a peak 18 months ago.
"It was just me on my own and things were slipping through the gaps.''
His bosses realised he needed help so four more constables were added to the arsenal. Within a year the annual burglary count plummeted from 270 to 132.
Mr Kenny attributes the drop to his larger team and better partnerships with other agencies. The Facebook page helped by connecting with 18- to 45-year-olds, most of whom weren't turning up to Neighbourhood Watch meetings. "It's about bringing policing into the 21st century,'' he says. "We're using new tools available to get our message out.''
The constable realised the more information he put on the site, the more people were likely to come forward, resulting in a network of informants being established.
"Attitudes changed from `we can't do anything', to `we've had a gutsful'," he says.
And the saying: "There's no honour among thieves'' was proven to no longer have any relevance in Beach Haven.
"You put the heat on them and they'll happily squeal on their mates.'"
Mr Kenny spends about four hours a week working on the site, all during his own time, as his police computer doesn't have the technology required -Javascript - to edit Facebook pages.
He says Beach Haven has long been known as a crime hot-spot on the North Shore, but that reputation is beginning to fade.
The opening of the Kaipatiki Rd bridge in 1999 has made it easier for police to reach the area from Glenfield and rising house prices have made the area unaffordable for the hardcore criminal element.
He says assistance from Auckland Council sorting out minor neighbourhood disputes and a no-tolerance approach to crime from Housing New Zealand is also helping the turnaround.
"It's a good place and full of fantastic people who are proud to live here. Ninety-eight per cent don't have anything to do with crime and it's clear they want to make a change.'"
When the Taurus Cres burglaries occurred earlier this month, Constable Kenny was posting about them within hours: "I am seeking any information regarding a group of four Maori/Polynesian youths in a white Subaru station wagon seen in the area."
He understood a young European male was acting as a lookout and crowbars were used to gain entry.
"If you are responsible for these burglaries and others in the area let it be known to you and your low life mates, I've received a lot of information already and I'm coming after you!"
Forty-six people viewed the message within eight minutes. The white Subaru turned out to be a red herring, but it wasn't long before tongues started wagging and three teenagers were arrested. They were found with a large amount of stolen property.
Two days later, Mr Kenny posted: "It has been an extremely busy but hugely rewarding and humbling couple of days. Thanks to the huge amount of information received, we executed two search warrants today in relation to the number of burglaries in the area."
Comments came flooding in: "When we have C.c.'s like yourself who r willing 2 go the hard yard, u will always find members of the gnrl. Public willing to help. THANK U for yor hard wk & keeping us updated!'' [sic]
Others said: "Congrats to all who were not afraid or intimidated to come forward & assist law enforcement in making their community a better place to live & raise kids,'' and ``one for the good guys, 0 for the scum."
"It kept our morale up," says Constable Kenny.
"We're continually dealing with ratbags and it's reassuring people are behind you. It encourages you and makes you want to work hard for them."
Visit the Beach Haven Community Constable's Facebook page.
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