Montgomery County CrimeStoppers is entering the 21st century with the addition of text messaging tips, which officials say are paying off.
More than 500 criminals have been arrested through the agency in the last three years, said Detective John Niquette, Montgomery County CrimeStoppers coordinator since October 2006.
“Some of them get arrested quickly,” he said. “Some take a few weeks or months.”
There are still 88 criminals at large from 2007’s Top 10 Fugitive lists, he said.
In addition to online and telephone reporting, CrimeStoppers recently added the option of text messaging reporting, which works the same as website tips, Niquette said.
Despite the options available for reporting wanted criminals, some criminals try their best to evade law enforcements – and public tipsters. James Arthur Power III, who was on the list last week for two felony counts of manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor charge, allegedly robbed two local stores of their copies of The Courier’s Jan. 17 edition featuring the Top 10 Felons list.
“He came in and he took the papers and folded them over and stuck them between his legs,” David Bawter, owner of the Shell at 403 N. Frazier St., said about what he caught on video surveillance. “He was brazen enough to waddle over and buy a cigar.”
After exiting the Shell, Power went to a silver foreign car parked behind the building and drove to the Walgreens store across the street, located at 420 N. Frazier St., and did the same thing, Bawter said.
However, there were no witnesses at Walgreens.
“No one saw him,” said Walgreens Manager Steve Ploch, who was still looking through video surveillance images. “He probably popped in the door and took the papers and left very quickly.”
The store was missing its nearly 12 copies of The Courier, while the Shell lost its 20 newspapers.
Not all top 10 felons go to those lengths. At least one featured criminal from last week turned herself in to law enforcement after her photo was featured, Niquette said. Four of the 10 criminals from last week’s Top 10 were arrested.
“I’ve noticed people, once they notice their face in the paper, they turn themselves in,” Niquette said. “I think in the back of their minds the idea of having their face in the paper or on the website is that extra push.”
Once the mug shot and names are published, the public has the opportunity to provide tips leading to a person’s arrest. If the tip leads to a felony arrest, the tipster can be awarded up to $1,000.
“I think as residents of the community … pay attention to what you see and if you see someone from the list contact law enforcement or CrimeStoppers,” Niquette said.
In 2008, $51,025 was approved for tip rewards. Another $43,000 was approved in 2007 and $21,425 in 2006, he said.
“The funds used to pay rewards come from probation fees,” Niquette said. “The state allows local judges to place a fee of up to $50 on people placed in probation. … We’re lucky here in Montgomery County we have the funds to pay those rewards.”
Eighty percent of the probation funds can be used toward rewards, while 20 percent can go toward operating costs, Niquette said. Companies affected by criminal activities also have contributed to reward amounts in the past.
Tips can be made at www.montgomerycountycrimestoppers.org, by phone at (800) 392-STOP (7867) or by text message to 274637, beginning the body of the text with 286.
Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Stats
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Tips Received
569
629
671
801
1,277
1044
Arrests Made
93
92
127
106
194
218
Fugitives Arrested
68
69
56
52
153
140
Rewards Approved
$26,300
$20,273
$19,730
$21,425
$43,000
$47,825
Rewards Paid
$22,800
$14,652
$16,130
$11,000
$29,475
$26,500
$ Narcotics Recovered
$6,845
$99,150
$129,161
$1,053
$80,828
$26,415
$ Property Recovered
$57,300
$62,060
$186,859
$155,800
$50,321
$501,657
Text Messaging Tips to Montgomery County Crime Stoppers
With the implementation of a new program written for Crime Stoppers organizations, Montgomery County Crime Stoppers is now using a new text messaging service to receive tips. The procedure is simple. The Montgomery County Crime Stoppers ID number is 286.
Text Tip286, then tip, to CRIMES (274637)
Example of how your phone will read is-
Tip286 John Smith is selling drugs at the corner of Broadway and Main
Then you would send it to 274637 – this being the “telephone number” or recipient
After the message has been received a Crime Stoppers tip number will be assigned and a two way dialog will continue with the Tipster for further information if need.
Crime Stoppers is hoping that this new feature along the current tip options such as webtips (www.montgomerycountycrimestoppers.org) and the hotline (1-800-392-(STOP) will assist in getting information from the public to assist law enforcement. As always, all tipsters will remain anonymous.
