Text Message Crime Tips

These days it seems some people send text messages more often than they talk to each other. Now you can "text" and help police solve crimes. Friday Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers announced its new text messaging system is up and running.

When police need your help solving crimes, CBS 12 broadcasts the Crime Stoppers phone numbers that people can call and offer anonymous tips. The local Crime Stoppers organizations also have websites where people can submit information by e-mail.

Now in Palm Beach County, you can also use your cell phone to send text messages with crime solving tips.

"This is a good tool because everybody's got a cellular phone now," says Sgt. Jim DeFago of Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers. "Because that's what it seems like today, that people don't mind picking up their phone and texting in a message, instead of picking up a phone and actually speaking to an operator. We're just trying to hit all avenues to solve crime in Palm Beach County."

Sgt. DeFago demonstrated for CBS 12, sending a test text message from his cell phone. Soon we heard a tone on DeFago's laptop, indicating Crime Stoppers had received the message. The laptop screen lists the sender as anonymous. Then DeFago's phone gave a single ring, signaling he had received a confirmation message. The message from Crime Stoppers contained a code for case tracking, important for remaining eligible for a Crime Stoppers reward.

John Shwiner, president of the Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers board, stressed, "We don't know who sent that message. And when that code number goes back to them, we don't know where that's going."

Crime Stoppers board members believe receiving information through text messages will be especially useful at crime scenes and among younger people.

Send your text messages to: tips@cspbc.net. C.S.P.B.C. is short for Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County. The phone number for Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers is 1-800-458-TIPS, the web site is www.crimestopperspbc.com.

Staffers at Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers say they also plan to implement a text message system, but there's no date yet. The Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers number is 1-800-273-TIPS, the web site: www.tcwatch.org.