Cambridge Alert Network
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Police Use tip411 to Send Alerts to 22,000 Residents in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Despite serving as an important line of communication during violent incidents or big snow events, like last week’s “bomb cyclone,” most of the city’s households are not signed up for the Cambridge Alert Network.

The Cambridge Alert Network is a system of various services including Citizen Observer (tip411), NextDoor and CodeRED. The network sends residents — through text, email or phone — crucial notifications relating to weather, crime, safety, and any other emergency situations.

Citizen Observer (tip411)

As a subscription-based service, Citizen Observer (tip411), a branch of the Alert Network, allows residents to sign up for citywide information on crime for each of the 13 neighborhoods in Cambridge. According to Jeremy Warnick, Cambridge Police Department’s director of communications and media relations, these notifications reach approximately 22,000 subscribers citywide: less than 20 percent of the city’s population.

″[Citizen Observer] is really helpful, particularly with an ongoing criminal manner in which we will provide updates,” Warnick said. “The other component of it is that it also allows us to receive anonymous tips. [The tips] are encrypted so we have no idea who’s on the other side sending those in. It’s a trustworthy way of people submitting information that may help us with an investigation.”

Warnick said the department usually receives multiple crime tips a week through Citizen Observer, and that they often “come in waves.”

Read the full story from the Cambridge Chronicle

tip411 East Lyme Police
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East Lyme police launch app for anonymous tips, crime alerts

East Lyme police say a newly launched mobile app will enable the police department to quickly send information to residents, and allow residents to anonymously send tips to police.

“We viewed it as a way to improve and increase our ability to interact with the public,” town police Chief Michael Finkelstein said about the decision to launch the app.

East Lyme residents can get the app through the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store or the East Lyme Police Department’s website, bit.ly/ELPolice, according to a news release announcing the app.

The ‘East Lyme PD’ app is free and was created by tip411, the release states.

Finkelstein stressed that the system is not monitored “24/7,” so anytime people have an immediate need for police assistance, they should call 911 or the regular East Lyme Police Department phone number.

Residents who don’t use a smartphone still can make anonymous tips by texting the tips along with the keyword “ELPD” to 847411 (tip411). They also can send tips online on the police department’s website, bit.ly/ELPolice, according to the release.

Police departments across the country use the tip411 system. Hamden and New London, which uses the system for anonymous tips, are among the police departments in Connecticut that use it, Finkelstein said.

East Lyme police plan to send out notifications about crime through the app. For example, when police were looking to identify a man who reportedly stole packages off a porch earlier this month, police could have used the app to push out information about the incident, including a photo, he said. People then could have replied to police anonymously about who they thought the man might be.

“We certainly encourage people to go out and get the app,” Finkelstein said. “It allows us to get information out to people much quicker.”

And, if people spot suspicious activity — whether it’s suspected drug-related activity or human trafficking or anything else — they can report what they see to the police through the app, Finkelstein said.

He said the app creates a dialogue between police and residents in which people can provide updated information and police can ask questions — and it’s all anonymous.

Read the full story from TheDay.com

Package Theft
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Blaine, MN Police Share Package Theft Prevention Tips

If you have ever ordered clothing, jewelry, gifts, or any other merchandise by phone, computer, or mail chances are those items were delivered straight to your home. Most deliveries DO NOT require a signature and are generally left at your front door even if no one is home to accept them.

These packages, which quickly catch the eye of potential thieves, offer criminals that ‘Crime of Opportunity” they are looking for. Thieves looking to steal your packages will follow or watch for UPS, Fed Ex, US Mail, and other delivery service trucks so they can target your home after the parcels are delivered.

While this type of crime can occur at any time throughout the year it usually increases around the holidays due to increased shopping practices of residents.

Below are some “Package Theft Prevention Tips” for you to use which will help reduce your chances of becoming a victim of this crime.

  • If Possible ask for a tracking number.  Most major shipping companies offerthis service at no charge. This number allows you to track your packages and notifies you  when they will be delivered. Request a “Signature Delivery Option”. This requires a signature when the packages are delivered and ensures they will not be left at the front door
  • Request a specific drop off time and date when you will be home to accept your packages
  • Arrange to have your packages held at the shipping service so you can pick them up
  • Ask the delivery service to leave your packages at a side or back door. An enclosed porch where packages are out of sight is also a good option
  • Have your packages delivered to your workplace
  • Have your packages delivered to the home of a relative or neighbor who will be there to accept them
  • Ask to have your packages delivered to a retail store so you can pick them up at your convenience
  • Ask a trustworthy neighbor to keep a “Watchful Eye” out for you packages. If they’re willing, ask them to safeguard your packages until you return home
  • Leave a note for the carrier instructing them where to leave your packages (Ex: backdoor)

What Should You Do If You See Packages Being Stolen In Your Neighborhood?

  • Call 911 immediately! Tell the call taker you are reporting a “Crime In Progress”
  • Supply 911 and the Blaine Police Department with an accurate description of the suspect(s) and any vehicles that may be used

Click here to see the full alert from Blaine PD

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The Future of Community Engagement with tip411

For Hamden Police, it is another step in helping to bridge the gap between police officers and the communities they protect. A new smartphone app called tip411 lets smartphone users submit crime tips anonymously. Click here to see the video of Chief Wydra talking about the value of tip411. Learn more…

“Our mission is the preservation of public peace and order, the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, and the protection of persons and property,” said Stratford, CT Police Chief Joseph McNeil. “To achieve this goal, the department strives to gain and retain the confidence and respect of the public in such a way as to insure the welfare and betterment of the citizens of Stratford, and we believe our new app will help us better connect and engage with our residents.” Full Story Here…

COMING SOON!: tip411 Select will allow your agency to connect with specific groups within your community like never before by allowing them to communicate in their preferred language. This cutting edge app, which can be customized for your agency, will make interacting with your residents easier, more efficient, and instantaneous. Learn more about all of tip411’s subscription options…

Talk or text to turn in poachers
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Talk or text to turn in poachers

Since the passage of Amendment 75, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has made it a priority to increase the amount of enforcement in every county of The Natural State. Each county has at least two officers assigned to patrol its woods and waters, and officers work together to target heavily used areas during certain times of the year. But with all these added men and women, the AGFC has only 180 wildlife officers when at full staff.

With only 180 wildlife officers to cover more than 3.4 million acres of hunting and fishing area in Arkansas, the deck may seem stacked in favor of poachers. Thanks to concerned sportsmen and sportswomen who care about Arkansas’s natural resources, the AGFC continues to make a strong statement to people who try to skirt the law and ignore wildlife regulations.

Anyone who witnesses a wildlife violation is encouraged to call the AGFC via telephone at 800-482-9262 to turn in the violator.

“We make a lot of cases thanks to tips from concerned citizens,” said Major Jason Parker with the AGFC. “Some of the contacts are even made by friends and family members of the people being reported.”

The AGFC’s radio room is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive calls about poaching. They can inform a local officer, who will get back in touch with the contact.

“We keep all sources anonymous if they wish, and we do offer rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading the arrest of some violators,” Parker said.

If someone doesn’t want to talk over the phone, they still can report a violation anonymously, using the AGFC’s Text a Tip service. To send the anonymous tip via text message, text “AGFC,” followed by the tip to TIP411 (847411). You will then receive a thank-you text acknowledging that the text has been received. CitizenObserver, the TIP411 provider, uses technology that removes all identifying information before the AGFC receives the text so that the AGFC cannot identify the sender.

Read the story from KAIT-TV