Crime Stoppers taking the fight online

by Nora Gathings (hsgathings@wsbt.com)

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South Bend Crime Stoppers

South Bend Crime Stoppers now has a website that contains mugshots, information about unsolved crimes, and surveillance video, as well as a place to send an anonymous tip online. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

SOUTH BEND — Many people spend hours surfing the web. Now South Bend Crime Stoppers has gone online.

The website has gotten 800 hits since Sunday and a dozen tips, one which lead to the arrest of a bank robber. Police say they're still getting more tips by phone. But they think that will change.

South Bend Crime Stoppers has a new image and now a new website.

"It's one stop shopping for unsolved crimes in the region," said Captain Phil Trent, South Bend Police.

Crime Stoppers went online last Sunday with information and video from a Mishawaka bank robbery. Two days later, police got an anonymous online tip that lead to the robber's arrest.

"Just shows you how valuable it is to have a website in 2007," said Trent.

Crime Stoppers in Fresno, California entered the digital world last year and got 130 online tips. Now, they're launching text tipping.

"We went into high schools, and the response I got was, 'Who can afford a computer? Why can't we text you?'" said Detective Brad Stevens of Valley Crime Stoppers in a phone interview. "I think the opportunity to be able to get more tips, to make it a better impact from crime will come from kids being able to text us the information about a crime."

Other departments, including the FBI, are going digital. The FBI put electronic billboards up in 20 major cities over the last year, including Indianapolis and Philadelphia.

"The Philadelphia Police Department called the FBI and asked for assistance. They identified a subject. His picture was put on a billboard, and he was caught shortly thereafter," said FBI Special Agent Thomas Gancarz from the Indianapolis bureau.

And it's even being used to find Marine Cesar Laurean who is wanted for killing a pregnant marine in North Carolina.

Crime Stoppers may be keeping their searches local, but they hope to have similar success.

"They are one mouse click away," said Trent.

The website contains mugshots, information about unsolved crimes, and surveillance video. And there are links within the information to send an anonymous tip online.

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