News

Residents can now report criminal or suspicious activity anonymously in seven housing complexes in Bridgeton and one in Upper Deerfield Township.

No one, not even the operator taking the call, will know the caller’s identity. The operator doesn’t even allow the caller to give his or her name. The call is not taped or traced, and doesn’t use caller ID. If the informant tries to identify himself, the operator interrupts, tells him the call is being disconnected and asks him to call to speak to another operator.

The operator asks about 65 questions designed to get as much information as possible.

The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at 800-78-CRIME, or 800-782-7463.

If the caller is interested in a reward in the event of a conviction, they are given a three-part fictitious code name and tip number, which can later be used to collect.

All this comes courtesy of WeTip, a nationwide non-profit seeking to free conscientious residents from the fear of retribution when reporting crimes.