We-Tip hotline best in the U.S.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Tippecanoe County's We-Tip program is the most successful in the United States, according to Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington.

Lafayette Police confirmed, anonymous tips come in about every day to the police department. In some instances, the We-Tip hotline has even helped police solve cases.

It was the end of 2008 when the Lafayette Police Department was investigating a series of robberies at Village Pantry convenience stores, the main piece of evidence surveillance footage from the Main Street location.

"We didn't have any leads at all, until we put voice on Channel 18, and the We-Tips just started coming in with this lady's name," said Lafayette Police Lieutenant Tom Davidson.

Davidson said Jacqueline Aper was subsequently arrested and convicted for the crime. Davidson said the We-Tip hotline continues to be a great tool for his department, which usually received about a dozen tips a week.

"They range from all different types of cases, from vandalisms to, probably the majority is drug cases, even up to the homicides," he said.

"In the history of We-Tip, not one person has ever been identified to any law enforcement agency," said Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington. "It's completely anonymous."

Harrington said that anonymity is likely the key to We-Tip's success. He said community members may be more willing to report crime if they know they're not speaking directly to police. But he said We-Tip has become so successful, local police are almost victims of their own success.

 "Sometimes a person has called back and said, 'I reported this place for drug activity, and it's still going on. Why haven't police stopped it?' Well, it does take an investigation," Harrington said.

Harrington said We-Tip use has stayed pretty steady in the nearly four years since it launched here, though reporting of gang activity has increased. He said 68 percent of We-Tip calls are related to drug crime. However, tips cover all types of offenses.

If you'd like to report crime in your area, you can call the We-Tip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME.