People wanting to provide anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers now have one more avenue to make that happen – while still completely protecting their identity. Crime Stoppers programs throughout the country, including Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, are launching the new TipSubmit mobile app for the iPhone.

The app is the first anonymous and fully featured iPhone application that allows the public to submit tips and help solve and prevent crime in their community.

The new mobile app offers new features and benefits not available with any existing tip submission process, including the ability to submit imaes, unlimited messaging length, fully anonymous two-way dialogue and even virtual chat mode when both parties are online.

Of course, tipsters preferring the traditional mode of calling in tips to the Crime Stoppers hotline, or submitting them online, may still do so, as well.

Although the mobile app is currently available for download to the iPhone through iTunes, at no cost, software creators anticipate having a similar app available for the Android platform within the next three months.

To download the mobile app, tipsters can search for TipSoft or TipSubmit at the iTunes app store.

Once the app is downloaded, tipsters are guided to find the Crime Stoppers program in their community. Once a local program is selected, tipsters are able to choose their own personal password. Each time a tip is submitted through the app, the tipster is generated a code number, just as they would if they submitted a tip through the hotline or via the internet.

“Crime Stoppers and our partners are endeavoring to keep up with technology, and provide tipsters with as many means as possible to share the knowledge they have about wanted fugitives or unsolved crimes,” according to Trish Routte, program coordinator for Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers. “And the software has been tested thoroughly to ensure that the identity of our tipsters is always protected.”

In addition to the new mobile app, those wanting to provide information can still call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477) or online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org.

As with all means of tip submission, tipsters providing information that leads to an arrest are eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Since the January 1, 91 criminals have been jailed as a result of tips provided to

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, resulting in the closure of 255 cases. Those tips have led to the payout of $25,160 in cash rewards.