With the prevalence of cell phones among all ages of the population, over 100 different law enforcement communities are entering the new era of text messaging by providing a crime stoppers text hot line. 

Since text messages are encrypted as part of the texting process, all tips received from cell phones via text are anonymous.  Individuals afraid that tips might be traced back to their phones can rest assured that no one will be able to point to their phone number as the source of the tip.

So far texting has led to the arrest of a suspect in a New Hampshire slaying, and a suspect in a drug case.  Other tips have led to reports of lesser crimes like the vandalizing of a school van or tracing a stolen car.  Not every tip solves or reports a major crime.  Undoubtedly, there are busybodies in every community who are more than willing to text in tips on annoyances rather than crimes.

So far though, it is working well and in Boston they logged 678 text message tips verses 727 phone tips for the past year ending June 15th.  For the first year in service, that is remarkably good. Text messaging is obviously an excellent way for police to gather tips and information on crimes and criminals.

The thought is that those growing up with cell phones these days will feel more comfortable texting in a tip rather than making a phone call where their voices might be recorded.  Texting is not just confined to teens in malls and 20 somethings out on the town.  Texting has become so prevalent that attorneys and doctors in their 30s and 40s regularly text their offices, each other, and their friends. 

Text tips offer an advantage over phone tips.  Real time text interactions can help officers trace crimes in progress more efficiently.  By texting back and forth with anonymous sources, police can continue to collect information as crimes are happening.  Another hope is that more school based crimes will be reported either before they happen or while they are happening.

Rewards offered for anonymous tips that solve crimes can still be received by texters.  The police send a special text code to the tipster who then can collect the reward through the process currently in place.

As always, there is one glitch in the process.  Now along with police speak, officers have to learn text shorthand like OMG, LOL, and IMHO.  I can see it now.  A text message comes in and an officer reaches for their “Text message translation book”.

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Entry was posted on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 at 1:10 pm under Cell phones, Crime.

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