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March 6, 2019 drivi86 In The News

Ansonia Police Make Arrest In Vandalism Case, Investigate Another

Ansonia police announced the arrest of two 17-year-old males Tuesday who allegedly caused $1,500 in damage to the soccer field at the Ansonia Nature Center.

Both suspects were charged with first-degree criminal mischief. They’ll appear in closed-doors hearings in juvenile court in Waterbury. They were arrested March 2.

“Information received through the Tip411 program and social media led to the identity of the suspects and several witnesses,” police said in a prepared statement. “All Ansonia residents are encouraged to sign up for Tip411, it is a program that allows people to leave anonymous tips and complaints with the police department as well as receive notifications from the police department.”

Three days after the arrest police were called to investigate a separate vandalism incident, this time at Abe Stone Park on Colony Street.

Police said a motorbike and a truck drove on the soccer field there.

“The vandalism is believed to have occurred over the last two days as the tire tracks are in the recent snow. The Ansonia Police Department is asking anyone with information to please call 203-735-1885. Information can also be left on Tip411,” police said.

January 24, 2018May 4, 2018 admin In The News

Rockland law enforcement unveils anonymous tip texting app

Anyone who witnesses a crime or can provide information on wrongdoing can use a free anonymous cell phone application to text police.

The county’s social media-based tip411 application was unveiled Tuesday by the Rockland District Attorney’s Office and local police. The system has been used in Westchester County, as well as across the state and nation.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSYSwYWPjB0&w=560&h=315]

While police still want emergency calls to go to 911, tip411 is geared toward texting tips and video and could overcome fears of witness intimidation, authorities said during a news conference at the District Attorney’s Office in the Rockland Courthouse.

The application also allows for receiving police alerts and social media channels.

“Giving the public the ability to anonymously communicate with police will allow people to provide key information without fear of reprisal,” District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said. “Tip411 will also help to alleviate a lack of witness cooperation, which has hampered the investigative process in many criminal cases.”

The targeted audience is especially young people, who are rarely without their cell phones.

“Tell a young person to make a phone call and they don’t want to,” Zugibe said. “Tell them to send a text message, no problem.”

The “RocklandCo DA app” can be downloaded free from Google Play Store, iTunes App Store, or by visiting the District Attorney’s Office website at www.rocklandgov.com.

Police said the system enables people to send anonymous tips about crime, drugs, bullying and suspicious activity to their local police department with officers able to respond, creating a two-way chat.

Three ways to send tips:

Send anonymous text tips to 847411 – tip411- then type keyword “rocklandcoda” add a space, type your tip info and hit send.
An anonymous tip can be sent through the free RocklandCo DA Smartphone app for iPhone and Android or tablet.
Use the anonymous web tip form at the District Attorney’s Office at www.rocklandgov.com.

“This does not replace 911 for crimes in progress,” Zugibe said, adding the tips are an investigative tool for police to solve crimes. “The tips are 100 percent anonymous.”

Police said the tip system has been used in Westchester County for nearly six years and has helped solve “cold cases.”

The system costs $17,000 for 24 months. The cost is paid through funds seized from criminal enterprises, District Attorney’s Office Capt. Brendan Donohue said.

All tips will be investigated just as if a person called in on the telephone or walked into a police station, authorities said, referring to people submitting false information.

Zugibe also said the information is not prosecution testimony.

“This is not a substitute to testimony,” he said. “This will be a valuable investigative tool.”

Read the full story from Lohud.

January 12, 2018May 4, 2018 admin In The News

tip411 Helps Police in Harrison, Ohio Catch Suspect Wanted on Multiple Charges

The following is an alert Harrison, Ohio Police sent to their community using tip411 on January 9, 2018:

This morning at 1127am, the Harrison Police Department apprehended a suspect in four cases of B&E, vandalism, tampering with coin machines and theft. Thanks in large part to the community and the tips we received through social media and TIP411.

A HUGE thank you for your assistance in the solving of the K-Mart and Goodwill break-ins as well as the offenses which occurred at Sandarella’s and Village Laundromats. We couldn’t have done it without the cooperation of this wonderful community!!!

See the full alert here.

November 9, 2017May 16, 2018 admin Agency Spotlight

Tigard Police Win GoPro at IACP

This year’s IACP was our most successful event ever! We met with dozens of customers, old and new, and had conversations with departments from across the country interested in learning about how they could use tip411 to better connect with their communities to help fight crime.

All those who stopped by our booth were entered for a chance to win a GoPro camera to help their department produce videos in their community, and this year’s winner was the City of Tigard, Oregon Police Department!

Congratulations to Commander Robert Rogers and the whole department on your new toy.

May 1, 2017May 17, 2018 admin In The News

Smartphone app helps fight crime in Crow Wing County

Smartphone apps have uses ranging from checking the weather to watching movies to reading about the latest breaking news, and everything in between. Now Crow Wing County residents can download an app that lets them send crime tips to the sheriff’s department and communicate with local law enforcement from anywhere while remaining anonymous.

Tip411 is a program that has been gaining popularity in the lakes area over the last eight months. After downloading the CWCS Mobile app on an iPhone or Android device, users can simply submit anonymous tips relating to any criminal or suspicious activity directly to the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.

And that’s not all.

“The cool thing with this feature is people can still remain anonymous if they wish, but we’re allowed to communicate back with them. So that’s where we can add the additional questions,” said Capt. Scott Goddard, of the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.

The app allows the investigator receiving the tips to respond to the tipster and ask follow-up questions.

“They’ll text us in something very vague, like, ‘Vehicles coming or going late at night from a residence,'” Goddard said. “And then our follow-up questions might be, ‘Well, can you give us descriptions of the vehicle?’ or ‘What times are the vehicles coming and going?'”

Read the full story from the Pineandlakes Echo Journal