CAMBRIDGE, Md. - People living in Cambridge can now help fight crime typing one anonymous tip at a time.
The City of Cambridge wants to crack down on crime using an online tool, launching a new form on Tuesday that allows people to report crime anonymously.
Cambridge Police Captain Justin Todd says he's hopeful the tip line the will prove to be a useful, community tool.
"It's us working together to make good things happen within the City," Todd said. "This is an avenue that they can put it on in words not through a phone call and not by giving a name. That way we can take the information that maybe we did or did not have and can do what we need to do with it."
Still, some people worry the luxury of being anonymous may come at a price, including people like Amanda Lane of Cambridge, who says the tip line could bring justice to crime-ridden parts of her neighborhood but worries some may use the anonymity to mislead officers in an investigation.
"I do see where that could be somewhat of a plus for sensitive things that need to be reported," Lane said. "I don't see how much good it will do. I think an anonymous form is easily abused and I am concerned that it will waste precious resources having to investigate constantly."
But Todd says police will only act on tips with thorough investigations already done, ensuring the private lives of people like Lane will stay completely anonymous.
"Without probable cause to move forward, we can't do anything with it," Todd said.
Todd says Cambridge PD's Criminal Investigation and Special Ops unit will check tips regularly.
