The public now has one more option to submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers – their cell phones, says Crime Stoppers coordinator Trish Routte.

Text messaging has been added to the list of ways the public can provide Southwest

Florida Crime Stoppers with information on unsolved crimes, wanted fugitives or illegal

activities occurring in the community, or within area schools.

With the new text tipping program, she says the public can discreetly text a tip to C-R-I-M-E-S (274637), Keyword: REWARD.

The keyword of REWARD is exclusive to Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, and ensures that all anonymous tips texted with that specific word will be processed through Crime Stoppers, thus making the tipster eligible for a cash reward, Route said.

This is the only text tipping program in Southwest Florida that provides cash rewards for information that leads to an arrest.

The text tipping program utilizes the same software utilized by all other forms of providing

anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers. Through this software, provided by TipSoft,

there are layers of protection in place to apply an encrypted alias ID to the originating cell

phone number. Thus, the identity of tipsters cannot be detected by any means.

This new addition to Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers compliments the three other forms

of providing an anonymous tip – the traditional hotline number of 1-800-780-TIPS (8477),

the website at www.swflcrimestoppers.org or through the TipSubmit app on any iPhone.

“The goal is to make the process of providing an anonymous tip as easy as possible to all

facets of the community,” Routte said. “Some people feel more comfortable behind a keyboard to provide information, and others, particularly the younger generation, are more apt to text than to pick up a phone. By offering several options, we’re hoping that people who have information that law enforcement needs will access whatever avenue they feel most comfortable with, and will provide Crime Stoppers with information that can ultimately make our community safer.”

With the text program, tipsters will only need to include the keyword on the SMS (text) tip

the very first time they submit a tip. After that, the TipSoft program will automatically know where to route all subsequent traffic from that device. The text tipping program will also allow tipsters to communicate back and forth with Crime Stoppers staff, which is also

available with the web tip and the TipSubmit iPhone app.

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers chose the keyword of REWARD to designate from

other text tip lines provided by several law enforcement agencies. While tips provided to

those sources are promptly passed along to law enforcement, tipsters would have to use

the REWARD keyword to be eligible to a cash reward of up to $1,000 if their tip leads to

an arrest, Routte said.