Marple Township Police are launching a tip reporting and community alert system to better help residents report potential crimes and keep them informed of an crime activity.

Police said they are launching the tip411 system from CitizenObserver.

The system will let residents receive neighborhood and/or township wide alerts from police via text message or email ob their smart phones.

With the system, residents can also share information on crimes and suspicious activity they may observe in the area through sending police anonymous tips by texting 847411 (tip411) with “MARPLE” and including their message to police.

“We believe an informed community is a safer community,” Marple Police Chief Tom Murray said in a press release on the new system. “The new tip411 system allows our department to engage with the public and share information that will help make Marple Township a safer place.”

Residents can download the Marple Police tip411 app here for Apple devices and here for Android devices.

Read the full story from Marple Newton Patch.