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Crime Stoppers offer text tool for reporting crime

By Scott Harvey

Hunt County – Hunt County Crime Stoppers is enlisting another tool in fighting crime, by giving you the opportunity to send an anonymous text message.

Upon reception of a tipster's first incoming message via cell phone, the system will auto-reply with a confirmation containing your unique tip ID. To submit follow-up information, the tipster simply replies; nothing else is needed. The investigator can then engage the tipster in a two-way dialog via text message to get additional information the help solve the crime. The tipster also has the option of terminating the two-way communication, if so desired.

Text "TIP294 plus your message" to CRIMES (274637). To stop the two-way communication, text "STOP" to the same address. An instructional video on this new system is available at www.smscrimetips.com.

Hunt County Crime Stoppers hopes this new avenue of providing crime tips will help law enforcement reduce the number of people affected by crime. In 2008, Hunt County had a 42% increase in tips received and a 46% increase in rewards paid from the previous year. Tipsters could earn a reward of up to $1,000.