By Scott Harvey
Paris – Lamar County Crime Stoppers are endorsing the recent launch by CrimeReports.com of a new mobile app for iPhone users called TipSubmit. The app gives iPhone users the ability to submit anonymous Crime Stoppers tips straight to their local Crime Stoppers program right from their iPhone. The app is the first of its kind to hit the market, and the first of its kind for Crime Stoppers.
"This is big news for Crime Stoppers!" said Officer Matt Birch of Paris Police Department, and Coordinator of Lamar County Crime Stoppers. "This app will let tipsters submit tips directly to Crime Stoppers from their iPhone, right along with pictures and video. In addition, tipsters can communicate and chat anonymously directly with the coordinator without fear of being identified."
Separate from the SMS Text Tip format that Crime Stoppers has had for about 3 years, but similar to the popular online WebTip format; the tipsters can password protect their tips and information on this app and keep anyone from finding out.
The app is free for anyone to download from the iTunes Store and is available now. An app for Android and Blackberry users is also on the way.
County Crime Stoppers recently celebrated its 25th year and with the release of a brand new website as well. About three weeks ago, Lamar County Crime Stoppers went live with its new website at www.785-tips.com thanks to the help and expertise from Hometown Web Media in downtown Paris.
"The website will most definitely help us improve our online presence which is vital to a successful organization now days." The website was designed with two things in mind: 1- being to teach the community about what Crime Stoppers is, and 2- to get tips in from the community and to help get criminals off the streets" said Officer Matt Birch.
Crime Stoppers is a network of local non-profit organizations design to solicit anonymous tips on crime in the community, and in turn pay cash rewards to those tipsters for the tips that lead to arrests. Since it was founded in 1976, it has grown into a large national and global network of crime fighters.
Locally, Lamar County Crime Stoppers was founded in 1986, and is celebrating its 25th year. Over the years Lamar County Crime Stoppers has arrested over 1800 criminals, cleared over 3400 cases, and paid out over $275,000 in rewards.
To learn more about Crime Stoppers and the new TipSubmit Mobile app, visit www.785-tips.com.