Crime Stoppers begins “text tips” program

In a media update received by Historic City News this afternoon, Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida announced that June 15th marked the start of their new Text Messages program. These “text tips” from cell phones are part of Crime Stoppers anonymous tipster program in St Johns, Volusia, Flagler, and Putnam counties.

First the tipster sends in a message, which is formatted with a keyword. They will text “Tip231 plus their message” to CRIMES (274637). Law Enforcement is able to reply back without knowing their true identity or having access to the source phone number.

Messages traveling in both directions pass through a new super secure and anonymous remote server. Both encryption and aliasing are involved as cloaking methods of the original cell phone number. And, the server is located in Canada where a Supreme Court decision helps protect the information above and beyond encryption routines.

The Crime Stopper concept provides a method of overcoming fears and concerns about contacting law enforcement with information. Through the Crime Stoppers program, citizens who have knowledge of a specific crime are encouraged either for civic or monetary reasons to “give their information, not their names.”

Through this program, the public is reminded that the police need their assistance to make the community a safer place to live. Crime Stoppers allows any citizen coming forward with information to remain completely anonymous. In this way, the citizen is assured that his identity will be protected and that any useful information relayed will be utilized.

Crime Stoppers Of North East Florida was founded In Daytona Beach in 1996, proving citizens an opportunity to become involved in solving and preventing crimes while remaining anonymous through its toll free tip line, 1-888-tips (8477) or text “Tip231 plus their message” to CRIMES (274637). These may be used any time of the day or night. Rewards up to $1,000 are paid if information provided leads to an arrest.

In the past nine months alone, 1451 tips have been received, and 128 arrests have been made as a result of that information. Nearly $335,000 in drugs has been removed from the community from these tips and nearly $25,000 has been awarded to tipsters.

Crime Stoppers is partially Funded by the Crime Stoppers Trust Fund, Office of the Attorney General Bill McCollum. Donations may be sent to Crime Stoppers of NE Florida, P.O. Box 15224, Daytona Beach, FL, 32744.