tip411 In The News

See something unlawful or troubling? Text TIP411

Have you heard about TIP 411 available in Northfield and Rice County? The Rice County Sheriff’s Office, the Rice County Chemical Health Coalition, the Mayor’s Task Force on Youth Alcohol and Drug Use and the Northfield Police, are getting the word out about the TIP411 program through posters, flyers, postcards, and a public service announcement.

TIP 411 is a way for people to report concerning behavior or activities without having to provide any identifying information. Often community members don’t want to report illegal or risky activity for fear of getting involved. Through the TIP411 program, law enforcement agencies across Rice County can accept 100% anonymous crime tips via cell phone text messages. This resource allows community members to reach out for help when they feel that their safety is threatened, or when they are concerned for their family, friends and neighbors.

Community members can use TIP411 to report information related to crime, drugs, fights, underage drinking, threats, violence, vandalism, theft, drunk drivers, weapons, gangs and people in trouble. To text a tip, simply start a new text message. Type 847411 in the phone number spot. Type the keyword RICECO in the message portion of the text. Type the specific crime information after the keyword and hit send.

Messages are sent to Citizen Observer, Inc. and stripped of all identifying information. A local officer receives the message and determines whether Faribault Police, Northfield Police, or the Rice County Sheriff’s Office will follow up.

Read the full column from Northfield News and watch a public service announcement about Rice County’s tip411 system.

tip411 In The News

Anonymous tip leads to Cheektowaga drug arrests

An anonymous tip prompted an undercover investigation on Poinciana Parkway in Cheektowaga and led to the arrests of three men and a woman on marijuana charges last week, Assistant Police Chief Jim Speyer said Friday.

Speyer credited a “concerned neighbor”who used the town’s TIP411 text system with alerting the department to the drug activity. Detectives then began monitoring a home on the street.

On Sept. 24, detectives stopped a car as it backed out of the driveway. They noticed a smell of burning marijuana and arrested three men and a woman, ages 17 to 20. Speyer did not identify the four suspects but said all were charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.

“The neighbors on that street had become concerned about a group of youths hanging around that house yelling, screaming, using drugs and causing a nuisance and disrupting the quality of life in the neighborhood,” Speyer said.

He said tips, which are completely anonymous, can be made to the Cheektowaga Police Department by using TIP411 (847411) and typing CPDNY and texting the information.

Read the story from The Buffalo News and visit Cheektowaga PD’s Facebok page.

tip411 In The News

Story County Crime Stoppers implement new software for tipline

Thanks to a new software recently implemented by Story County Crime Stoppers, county residents will be able to send tips to authorities with greater ease than ever before.

According to Crime Stoppers Chair Warren Franke, Tip411 allows anyone to send a tip to proper authorities in four different ways.

“This enables us to better help Story County authorities do their job that we pay them to do,” Franke said. “Our old software limited us in that regard.”

With the new software, anonymous tips can be submitted by either calling (515) 382-7577, texting “STORY COUNTY” to 847411 (TIP411), clicking on the “Submit a Tip” link on the Story County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, or downloading the Story County Tip app for Apple and Android products. The latter option, Franke said, was one of the main reasons they decided to go with Tip411.

“We tested it, and it just seemed to be a better fit,” Franke said. “Now, submitting a tip is literally right at your fingertips.”

Read the full story from the Ames Tribune

tip411 In The News

Anonymous tip line proves to be a success for Rapid City PD

Text RCPD and the information to 847411, you’ve heard it before, and you’ll likely hear it again, but what you may not realize is how beneficial it is to the Rapid City Police Department.

Brendyn Medina with the Rapid City PD says the tips increase every year, saying last year the PD had almost 300 tips and already this year they’ve had 250.

Medina says, “We’re starting to see the public really latch onto the idea. You know, there are always going to be those people who don’t want to be labeled a snitch, but want to be able to help us solve crimes and hold offenders accountable, so this is one more medium that we allow the public to connect directly with a police officer without fear of having to put your face, or your name, or your location out there.”

Read the full story from KEVN-FoxTV.

tip411 In The News

“An anonymous tip will put no one at risk. Failing to share what you know about a fatal shooting puts us all in danger, and you, too.”

There have been four fatal shootings in just over three months — including three in the past 10 days —  in Lancaster city. Police are seeking the public’s help in locating a suspect in one of them and identifying suspects in the other three.

In case you know anything and missed how to report what you saw or heard concerning recent shootings in Lancaster,  here’s how you can help to make our community safer for yourself, your family and everyone else.

— Call Lancaster Bureau of Police: 717-735-3300.

— Call Lancaster City-County CrimeStoppers, anonymously, if you wish: 800-322-1913.

— Submit a tip anonymously online.

— Dial 847-411 (TIP-411) to send a tip via text; begin the message with “LANCS,” then type your tip.

If a friend or acquaintance  mentions knowing something about one of the recent shootings, or if you believe he does, encourage that person to get in touch with police or CrimeStoppers.

“People with any information about any of these incidents, no matter how trivial they think it may be, need to come forward and share it with investigators,” Lt. Todd Umstead, of the Lancaster City Bureau of Police, said in an email Monday.

Read the full editorial from Lancaster Online.