Crime Stoppers launches another new feature

The NMI Crime Stoppers program has launched another feature to the NMI Crime Stoppers program.

Just last month the NMI Crime Stoppers program implemented a new feature making it possible for anyone with Internet access to submit anonymous tips online. The program’s most recent addition was implemented on Dec. 9, featuring an “always answer” feature. Now when you call the NMI Crime Stoppers Tips Line at 234-7272 (PARA) the phone will “always” be answered by a person. The program will not longer utilize a tape recording if the phone is not answered because now the phone will be “always answered.”

This new program feature is made possible by utilizing a telephone answering service called Alternative Answers. They are located in Bolton, Ontario, Canada. If your call is not answered here within the first two rings your call will automatically be forwarded to Alternative Answers in Canada. The line is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. So, all of your calls will be “always answered.” There is ni charge to the caller for this feature. The NMI Crime Stoppers program pays for the call and any fees to Alternative Answers. So again, it is important to know that this service and these calls are all free to the public. This is also true for Tinian and Rota.

The NMI Crime Stoppers program said it is confident that this new program feature will increase both the quantity of calls and the quality of calls coming in to Crime Stoppers. Alternative Answers answers only calls to Crime Stoppers programs. No one in Canada is going to be able to identify your voice and be able to determine who you are. When the tips are received at Alternative Answers, they in turn fax the tip information to the NMI Crime Stoppers program where it is forwarded to law enforcement for follow up investigation. The NMI Crime Stoppers program has no way of even knowing the gender of the caller. The same is true of anonymous online tips received by the program.

This feature provides an enhanced added capability to submit anonymous tips to the NMI Crime Stoppers program. Anonymous tips can now be submitted to NMI Crime Stoppers in the following ways:By calling the Crime Stoppers Tips Line at 234-7272 (PARA). Your call will be “always answered”; by submitting tips online at www.nmicrimestoppers.com, the NMI Crime Stoppers website. Hosted by Verizon; by calling *11 from any Verizon cell phone (free call / no minutes).

All of the above features apply to Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Caller ID is never used, and no calls are tape recorded. All calls and online tips remain anonymous.

The NMI Crime Stoppers program was formed by the Saipan Rotary Club on April 18, 1989. Since its inception NMI Crime Stoppers has provided information to law enforcement agencies allowing them to clear 210 cases (two of which were homicide cases), 167 arrests, $197,793 worth of stolen property recovered, $2,383,985 worth of narcotics recovered and $10,150 in rewards paid.