Hoffman Estates cops create new tipster line

Hoffman Estates police have established a new phone tip line for the public to report crime.

"We enacted it just to give the citizens another way to report any tips or information anonymously," Lt. Rich Russo said. "They want they can also put their names in, but it won't be mandated."

Voice-mail messages can be left on the new tip line at (847) 781-2949.

Hoffman Estates' past policy was to have tipsters call the department's dispatch, and those messages or calls would be routed to the investigations department. Messages from the new line will again be transferred to investigations.

There wasn't a specific case or investigation that led to the creation of the new line, Russo said. Hoffman Estates police saw that other police departments have a similar resource and want the same.

Tipsters can also e-mail information to police via a link at hoffmanestates.com/index.aspx?page=186. There are no plans yet for a text tip line although the technology exists - Detroit police last month established one.

Russo reminds residents if there's an emergency or if a crime is the middle of being committed, they should immediately dial 911.

Reporting false information is a crime, he added.

Police routinely ask for the public's help during investigations. The most recent high-profile case in which Hoffman Estates police were soliciting tips was the 2008 murder of 19-year-old Joseph Ziegler.

The case remains unsolved more than a year after the Schaumburg High School graduate's death.

In that case, officials worried that those with information would be hesitant to come forward, fearing criminal charges would be filed against them.

However, there are laws that protect tipsters from charges in the event they come forward to police with useful information.

"This is just another avenue that residents can help our community," Russo said.