Police in Guangzhou's busy Tianhe district use WeChat messaging at work to help them fight crime, Guangzhou police said.

Thanks to a tip-off from residents, and the group messaging functions of WeChat, police caught four female suspects last week, according to a statement on the official website of Guangzhou city bureau of public security.

Hong Shengming, head of the Tianhenan police station, said they frequently sent messages about suspects and their methods to security guards of shopping centers, hotels, restaurants and relevant units via the WeChat and Fetion messaging services.