Mobile phone users may now text anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers in the National Capital area.
National Capital Area Crime Stoppers Coordinator Sgt. Claude Parent says, "While we've had remarkable success over the years with our 613 233-TIPS phone number, we added the ability for people to submit tips via crimestoppers.ca last year and saw our tips skyrocket. Now, we're expecting even more response by letting people text their tips from a cell phone. Many people have grown up with cell phones and the Internet, and Crime Stoppers needs to allow them to send tips whatever way makes them the most comfortable."
The communities will benefit from the text tips program according to National Capital Area Crime Stoppers President Devon Fermoyle, who points out, "We're particularly hoping that by encouraging text messages to Crime Stoppers we'll help make our schools and streets even safer."
In Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, tips can be sent to CRIMES (274637) then start with the keyword TIP252. While Crime Stoppers will be able to reply and ask questions, the sophisticated system ensures anonymity by assigning an alias to each user. Crime Stoppers does not receive any identifying information, including the mobile phone number.
Crime Stoppers is a community-run program that pays cash rewards for confidential anonymous information that helps police solve crimes.