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Text a Tip

The TEXT-A-TIP program allows the public to send secure and anonymous tips about criminal activity to the Evanston Police Department from any cell phone. For crimes in progress or emergencies, always call 911.

Text-a-Tip to the Evanston Police Department

You can submit a tip to the Evanston Police Department via text message. To do so, your phone must have text messaging enabled and be with a participating carrier.

  1. In the phone number field, enter 274637 (which spells “CRIMES”).

  2. Begin your message with EPDTIP to ensure it reaches the Evanston Police Department.

  3. Provide your tip with as much detail as possible.

All tips are handled through an independent third-party service that assigns each tipster a random, system-generated alias to protect your anonymity. Once your tip is submitted, you will receive a text with your alias. The Police Department may follow up via text if additional information is needed, but your identity remains confidential. If you do not wish to participate in two-way communication, you can text STOP to 274637 (CRIMES) to block responses.

The EPD wants information on all types of crime. TEXT-A-TIP allows the public to help keep their neighborhoods safe anonymously and safely. Tips can be submitted anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Although the TEXT-A-TIP service is free and requires no purchase, standard messaging rates and other fees may apply. Please check your cell phone plan for details.

Privacy

No cell phone information is collected by the Evanston Police Department as part of the program. Your tip is completely anonymous to the Evanston Police Department and is only identifiable via your “alias.” Any information you submit is directed to the EPD’s Emergency Communications Center Unit who will disseminate the information to the appropriate EPD unit.

Also Available: Submit Your Tip Online via Webtip

Submit your tip through the website using any of the languages below. All information is kept confidential.

Submit a tip in English - Español - Polish

How to Submit Photos

Photos can't be included through the normal texting feature on a phone. However, photos can be submitted if you use the iPhone Mobile App or Android Mobile App on a smartphone or if you use the online Webtip (see link above). At this time, video and/or audio clips can't be submitted with text-a-tip submissions using either a smartphone or Webtip.