May 8, 2008
Call or Text in Your Crime Tips, Anonymously
Earlier this week the Metropolitan Police Department announced its latest phone number that might help it solve crime: 1-888-919-CRIME is a toll free tip line that will be staffed by detectives around the clock. The new number should not be confused with 311 or 911, however, which are of course already fairly confusing.
The MPD says this new number should be used to make anonymous tips to the police about homicides, gangs, guns, or other violent offenses. More interestingly, they've also set up a text message service to do the same job. Texting to the number 50411 will allow anyone with a cell phone to text tips to the MPD. Get it? 5-0 411?
Give 5-0 the 411 with the new Text Tip Line: 50411. Text messages are monitored by members of the department 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Tips are then analyzed and passed on to the appropriate unit or division for follow-up.Hilarious.
Still, texting crime tips seems like a perfectly fine (and cheap) idea to try, especially if the MPD is trying to reach out to younger kids who have cell phones and text constantly, but might be too nervous or intimidated to speak to an actual detective on the phone. Text senders should know that they will not receive a response to their messages, though, since the text tip line is also anonymous.
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Haven't I seen this almost exact post somewhere else? With the whole joke about the 5-0 and 411?
"Give 5-0 the 411"
Muthafukkaz gotta stop the snichin!!!1!!
Where's Jack Lord when you need him?
I just texted them and told them there were some god damn troublemakers here at this post typing all kinds of trash and shit 'bout them.
50411... We are going to have fun.
This will probably lead to some hilarious drunken texts on the weekends as wasted bar-hoppers text in tips about the asshole who just cut them in line at Jumbo Slice. I'm waiting for MPD to release their monthly answer to "Best of Craigslist"
Can a text message be sent anonymously? Doesn't the person or system receiving the text get the number that it is being sent from?
I can see the tshirts now: STP TEXTIN'
Being able to text in emergency and crime info has been requested for several years by the deaf community. Especially the students and staff at Gallaudet University.
So, while there are a lot of jokes to be made, there is a real need for this service.
Plus if you're, for example, in a store that's being robbed, you can't just pick up your phone and call the cops
OMG R U FEELN LUK E PUNK?
Has anyone texted "The bitch set me up!" yet?
omg! h3[p! ca|| 4 p011|c3! | n33d a d0c70r! | h4v3 b33n sh0t!
I don't know how to feel about the fact that I can read every word (non-word?) of that monkey....
@flapjack
I feel dated knowing that I can also read that leet fart monkey posted.
For you kids out there and your hip texting, back in my day we used leet on those alt.mesasge boards while walking up a hill (Both ways) in the snow six feet deep.
leetspeak Translator.
n33d mor b33r
"Can a text message be sent anonymously? Doesn't the person or system receiving the text get the number that it is being sent from?"
That's a good question. Why don't you try texting "OMG I JUST SHOT MY PA" to 50411 and see if they can find you.
I'm going to continue to have all of my civic interactions via facebook chat. If MPD doesn't accept my friend request soon, I'm screwed.
@ HCE: the first thing I thought was how'd they get that girl to snitch on camera, for an anonymous tip line, no less? ha. i kid. seriously, someone needs to make PSA (if they haven't already) about snitching--pros & cons. that would be entertaining as well.
1 girl whose 16 years old and does the 69, 3 times day. What does that make her? 35007.
Anyone remember that calculator trick? Chicks were all over me back in 5th grade when I did it. Of course back then, I doubt any of us really knew what 69 was.
Get up, get get get down, 50411's a joke in this town.
So can I text in a tip about all that wife-beating by Texas police officers? Will they go to each officer's house and take their kids away?
Oh wait, that only happens if you are "cult". Er, then again these guys all do dress the same. And they carry guns!!!