Palo Alto police on Wednesday announced a new system that will allow people to submit anonymous tips about crimes.

The Palo Alto PD Tips app is available on Apple’s App store and Google Play and allows users to submit images or video as part of their tip. People can also send an anonymous text message to 847411 with the keyword PAPD in the message, police said.

Police said, “Tips will be reviewed by our agency personnel, who may respond to ask for more details and can continue the conversation with you either via the app or via text.”

The department said the system should not be used to report a crime in progress or any situation that merits an immediate response from a police officer. Any suspicious activity can be reported to the Palo Alto police 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413 and people should dial 911 for any emergencies. 

Dan McMenamin is the managing editor at Bay City News, directing daily news coverage of the 12-county greater Bay Area. He has worked for BCN since 2008 and has been managing editor since 2014 after previously serving as BCN’s San Francisco bureau reporter. A UC Davis graduate, he came to BCN after working for a newspaper and nonprofit in the Davis area. He handles staffing, including coaching of our interns, day-to-day coverage decisions and management of the newswire.