Crime & Safety

Text a Crime Tip to Police -- Anonymously

Strongsville sets up line to take confidential messages

The Police Department has set up a confidential text tip line that allows people to report a crime -- or their suspicions of a crime -- by typing rather than talking.

The Web-based application lets tipsters send their information to police by text.

"We found a lot of people are very comfortable sending an e-mail or a text, but not comfortable picking up the phone and calling or talking face-to-face," Police Chief Charles Goss said. "That's just how people communicate right now."

Find out what's happening in Strongsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While the system is not intended to replace Crime Stoppers or phoned-in information about wrongdoing, Goss said it offers another option for tipping off police about a criminal act.

To use it, text the keyword TIPSPD to 847411, followed by your tip information.

Find out what's happening in Strongsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The system, called TIP411, assigns a generic number to the tipster, which is all Strongsville police officers see. Police are able to ask the tipster follow-up questions, which they can answer if they choose.

The line will enable those with information about who committed a crime to report it anonymously, and also to tip off police to a crime that has not yet occurred. In some cases, a witness might not be able to make a phone call about a crime that is about to happen without the criminals knowing, but might be able to text in a warning.

Goss said few tips have come in so far, probably because not many people are aware it exists. He said one of the department's goals in 2011 is to promote the text tip line.

He warned, though, against using the line to report an emergency, because the system is not monitored in the say way the 911 phone system is.

The chief sees a time in the future, though, when dispatchers will be equipped to accommodate those types of messages.

"If you look ahead a few years, I see quite a few of the calls we get at dispatch coming in by text," he said.

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Strongsville