Allentown police hope new app will help cut down on crime
The Allentown Police Department is leaning on technology to help them catch criminals.
On Wednesday, city leaders unveiled a new app that’s a first in our area.
The Allentown Police Department hopes the new app will help cut down on crime and keep people safe. The app pushes out alerts about what’s happening and even lets you send anonymous tips right on your phone.
“We can send alerts to the entire city. Our captains can send out alerts to their areas,” said Allentown Police Department’s Assistant Chief Gail Struss.
Here’s how it works:
Just download the app, called “Allentown PD,” for free from the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store or the Allentown Police Department website.
Then look for crime alerts, or click tip and send information about cold cases or missing people. You can add pictures and videos too.
All tips are anonymous.
“I can respond to you but I have no idea who you are nor can I ever find out who you are because that information gets scrubbed before it ever gets to us,” Struss said.
Read the full story from WFMZ-TV and watch the report below:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G62CejYWYKo?ecver=2]
York leaders work to prevent crime through texting campaign
City leaders are working together to prevent crime through a campaign called TIP411.
The hope is that it will keep people safe, as well as help police, through texting.
“The campaign seeks to empower our community residents to become more aware and responsive to crime-related issues while being able to report them anonymously,” Mayor Kim Bracey said.
A reminder is posted on billboards and on the sides of RabbitTransit buses. All you have to do is text your tip to 847411.
“This is an opportunity for the city residents to have a bit of an attitude and typically that’s a bad thing, but I think the attitude we need to have is, ‘not on my street, not in my neighborhood, and not in my town’,” RabbitTransit executive director Richard Farr said.