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The Houston Police Department has a web site for anonymous crime tips: http://www.stophoustongangs.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It has resulted in 30 arrests in seven months, mostly for gang-related activity.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 64265.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

While "dropping a dime" has been around since the pay phone was invented, this site allows informants to upload photos and video. Tips are forwarded to a shift supervisor immediately.

Jilted "girlfriends" seem to be a good source of information.

P.S.: I wonder how old you have to be to know what "drop a dime" means. I recently saw a little kid looking at a pay phone like it was an alien artifact.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:Jilted "girlfriends" seem to be a good source of information.
- Jim

As Gomer Pyle would say "Surprise, Surprise, Surprise."

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seamusTX wrote:P.S.: I wonder how old you have to be to know what "drop a dime" means.

Isn't that what you do to play a song about New Orleans?

I wonder if people truly believe that they are "anonymous" when they post on that site. I'll bet the cops don't want it publicly known that they can always tell at least the IP address of the poster, and probably MUCH more than that.

How can anyone believe now a days that anything sent over the web can't be traced???

It's a great idea though as maybe some people want to do the right thing but are afraid it will come back on them if they are found out to be the snitch.

The fact that the article says that "gangstas" themselves post on the site tells me that the police are following every lead that is posted on the site, and probably investigating the posters as well.

Kawabuggy wrote:I wonder if people truly believe that they are "anonymous" when they post on that site. I'll bet the cops don't want it publicly known that they can always tell at least the IP address of the poster, and probably MUCH more than that. How can anyone believe now a days that anything sent over the web can't be traced???

There are several ways.

Some people have access through school that can't be traced to an individual. Given that a lot of gang activity involves minor teenagers, their acquaintances probably are a good source of information.

Then there are computers in public libraries that anyone can use. They may require users to sign in, but they don't seem to notice if you sign in as Spiro Agnew or some such.

Then there are anonymizer servers, mostly overseas, that are beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement.

Then there's war driving, but we won't go into that.

- Jim

There's ways to be more anonymous but even simple measures are plenty, assuming the cops don't want to spend resources outing the tipsters. i.e. assuming it's a legit tip site and not a FBI-style honey pot.

Well, I took a chance and tried the web site.. I have HPD in front of my house right now. Total time between my posting and the cops arriving -about 15 minutes.

Long story short, our neighbors sons have been dealing out of their house for several years. The rest of our neighbors are all elderly and have told me point blank that they will not call the police or do anything about it because of fear of retaliation.

Before we moved in here there were several break-ins on this street and the neighbors always thought that these specific kids were involved but yet no one did anything about it.

Well, today I was sitting here trying to fix my computer and a truck pulls into my driveway and starts blowing his horn... I look out the window and he's just sitting there blowing his horn repeatedly.. After a few minutes, I see one of the dealers from next door crossing my yard and waving the guy in the truck over to his house.. The truck backs out of my driveway, into their driveway, and the son jumps in the truck. After about 5 minutes, the truck drives off. This goes on all day and all hours of the night as well. At this point, I had the trucks license plate and a description of the driver. I posted this information on the web site, along with details about what has been going on at the neighbors house as long as we have lived here..

Shazam! The cops were here in about 15 minutes. They stood out there questioning the 2 sons (dealers) for about 30 minutes and then drove off. If nothing else, it may have slowed the traffic down for a day or two. I'll continue to monitor the situation and see what happens from here. I'll keep all license plates for each vehicle that comes and goes as well. Maybe, just maybe, there will be an end to this crap in the future. I understand why the neighbors are afraid of these kids. They know when each and every one of us is home, and when we are not. They don't work so they have all the time in the world to watch us. They actually have an old green couch sitting in their driveway that they sit on all day and night. Occasionally there will be other unknown adults sitting on the couch for days at a time. They seem to have various "roommates" move in, and out, during any given month.

I hope I have not started something that I will regret later. I am working from home at this point so at least I am here most of the day.

It is amazing how fast HPD responded. I'm impressed with the system so far. If any of you have something you have been thinking about reporting--give it a shot!

I did not choose to remain anonymous. I posted my information so that the police could contact me if they had questions. I just hope they don't share that with the neighbors! I want them gone, but I don't want to be at war with them until then!

Kawabuggy wrote:I did not choose to remain anonymous. I posted my information so that the police could contact me if they had questions. I just hope they don't share that with the neighbors! I want them gone, but I don't want to be at war with them until then!

Wow! Impressive! I found that website a while back and thought it was a great source of info on gangs. I didn't realize it was hosted by HPD. The fast response is amazing.

I wonder how much of that info is able to be pulled through a public information request.

I hope I have not started something that I will regret later. I am working from home at this point so at least I am here most of the day.

Thanks for the amazing first-hand account.

I sincerely hope that nothing bad happens and you have a burglar alarm.

- Jim