As a Chicagoan, I’m well aware of the severity of crimes that occur on a daily basis. Recently, many police departments, including the Chicago Police Department, have announced they are including tips received via social media in their investigations. Whereas before people have been reluctant to give up information about a crime for fear of being a snitch, new systems will make the tips received by the police anonymous.

Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy announced on Monday, July 8, 2013 that the pilot program for anonymous tips is being rolled out in three communities — two high crime areas on the city’s West and South Sides and the trendy River North area — will also will include a pilot Twitter program that will allow police to share information such as community alerts, missing persons reports with residents.

Meanwhile, in Waterloo, Iowa, a man whose nephew was recently shot and killed begs the public to use social media to help find the murderer who shot his nephew. Last year, the Cedar Valley Crimestoppers began posting pictures of suspects on their Facebook page and website. They said it’s been highly successful in identifying subjects.

In a time of restricted budgets, the online world has saved investigators time and money, because sometimes, it provides the one tip that closes a case.