(WSBT) Nine people have been shot in South Bend over the last 10 days. None have been killed, but all of the cases remain unsolved.

Investigators say a "code of silence" is becoming an all too common trend. Once reserved for gangs, it's now being "marketed" in communities across the country. The slogan is simple: "stop snitchin." But its consequences could be deadly.

Codie Respondek has a brand new reason to want crime out of his Scott Street neighborhood: his young son.

So when he found a bullet lodged just six feet from where his son sleeps, he hoped somebody had seen something that would lead police to the person who pulled the trigger.

But he knew that might be a long shot.

"Snitches get stitches! That's the phrase," he said.

And that phrase has caught on like wildfire. You can hear it on dozens of rap music videos and even see it on everything from T-shirts and hats to coffee mugs.

And it's not just a west side problem, or even a South Bend problem. In fact, police say it's a growing nationwide trend, spurred on by music and movies with a clear message to kids: don't talk to cops, or else.

"They're worried about gangs. They're worried about retribution," said Linda Alicea, who is concerned about rising crime rates in her west side neighborhood. "Even the neighborhood watch people are afraid to say something. You just keep your mouth shut and hope things get better."

But it's clear, just hoping isn't helping. After nine shootings in 10 days, there are still no answers, and no arrests. Frustrations are growing and so are the pleas for help.

"No matter how bad it is, living in fear is a lot worse," Alicea said.

But Captain John Williams of the South Bend Police Department says the department isn't giving up, and the push for answers will continue, whether investigators get they help they need or not.

"We cannot stop that. We have to keep on trying," he said.

There is a way you can help police put some of these criminals behind bars, without putting yourself at risk: stay anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 288-STOP. You don't have to give your name and you could get a reward if the information you give leads to an arrest.