Now U can txt a tip 2 Crime Stoppers, B anonymous and still get ur reward.

Denton County Crime Stoppers, an agency that pays rewards for tips that lead to the apprehension of criminals or recovery of stolen property, has added a third way for people to give information to law enforcement officials without revealing their identities. Text messaging now is available along with calling a toll-free telephone number and e-mailing.

The new service uses Short Message Service technology, or SMS, which allows text messages to be sent anonymously.

Denton County sheriff’s Sgt. Roger Griggs, who coordinates county law enforcement agencies with Crime Stoppers, said the new means of communication was made possible when the agency received a new version of the Tipsoft software that allows for confidential information to be gathered and stored.

The updated program also stores all of the tips at an out-of-state location that is designed for security.

Griggs oversees the local program and presents tips to the Crime Stoppers board for decisions on which tips merit rewards of up to $1,000.

All of the three means of handing over the information ensure the anonymity of the tipster. Telephone callers dial 1-800-388-8477 (TIPS). They talk to Griggs or an outside telephone answering service. They are given identification numbers for their tips and use those numbers to pick up rewards at a local bank.

E-mails sent through the www.dentoncountycrimestoppers.com  Web site are handled the same way.

The new texting system allows even more freedom and security, Griggs said. The text message is automatically issued a number in a text reply. The text goes to the secure Crime Stoppers Web site.

“I can go in there and I can text him back with questions,” Griggs said. “But I cannot read his telephone number. It’s encrypted.”

To send a text message, start with the “To” page and type 274637. Begin the message with “Tip 499.” Type the crime tip and then push “send,” Griggs said.

“It will automatically call back with a code number for the tip. You also can send more information about the same tip by including the tip number,” he said.

In 2008, Denton County Crime Stoppers received 652 tips, resulting in the arrests of 235 people, according to agency records. Tips resulted in the recovery of more than half a million dollars in stolen property and the seizure of $1.5 million in drugs.

Denton County Crime Stoppers approved payment of $100,850 in rewards, Griggs said.

DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com .