[MarignyBywater] Join the NOLA SMS Crime Alert Network

[NOLA Crime Alerts]

You are invited to join the new NOLA SMS Crime Alert Network... http://www.NOLACrimeAlerts.com 
... please spread the word!

WHY:

One night soon after the tragic murder of Wendy Byrnes in the French  
Quarter, a friend of Wendy's was mugged in the Marigny. Concerned  
friends sent out text messages to others warning them of the specific  
area to avoid and to be careful in general - and urging everyone to  
pass the message along. Ten copies of the same text message and three  
phone calls later, the idea to set up an SMS Crime Alert Network was  
born, with the intention of warning as many people as possible of  
recent and/or in-progress crimes without inundating anyone with  
multiple copies of the same message.

WHAT:

An SMS (text message) based Crime Alert notification network allowing  
community members to warn other community members of recent and/or in- 
progress crimes. Timely warnings will help community members steer  
clear of "hot spots", alert people of suspicious characters to watch  
out for, help track stolen vehicles and other items and further track  
crimes. A copy of all SMS Crime Alerts will be forwarded to NOPD and a  
multitude of other public officials on a weekly basis and will also be  
archived on this website. Unfortunately the public officials in New  
Orleans have not seen fit to properly address the severe crime problem  
in New Orleans, and while the Crime Alert Network does not address the  
roots of this problem, it is our hope that the network will help keep  
people a little bit safer, provide the community with all too often  
unreported details of crimes, and provide an independent log of crimes  
that occur in our city.

HOW:

     * Sign up to send and receive SMS (text) Crime Alerts on your  
cell phone for areas of the city you live/work/play in (sign up links  
below). While you will be able to receive messages immediately, please  
allow up to 24 hours before you are able to post.
     * If you are the victim of or witness to a crime, SMS the  
appropriate neighborhood group with pertinent information by texting  
68398 (add the number to your address book to keep it handy!) and  
starting the body of the message with the # symbol. Tatango, the SMS  
service utilized, will send back a message prompting you to select  
which group you would like to send your message to.
     * Before sending an SMS, please make sure one has not already  
been sent for the particular crime, only send another SMS if you have  
additional useful information to add.
     * Be as specific as possible - time, location, description of  
crime and perpetrator(s) - any and all information that will help  
others from becoming a victim of the same crime/criminal and/or help  
catch the criminals or retrieve stolen property. However, It is very  
important to refrain from posting specific personal/identifying  
information (exact address, names, phone numbers), and please refrain  
from editorializing!
     * A short, all-age appropriate ad will follow all posts - these  
are placed by Tatango and allow the Crime Alert Network to remain  
free. The only costs to the end user will be whatever charges your  
cell phone service normally charges you for sending and receiving text  
messages.
     * We will be adding additional neighborhood groups, but would  
prefer them to be user suggested rather than try to figure out  
appropriate subdivisions for areas of the city we (the creators of the  
network) do not personally live in. To request a group, please send an  
email to admin at nolacrimealerts.com.

TERMS:

     * Posting alerts repeating already posted information and/or  
posting specific personal/identifying information will result in loss  
of posting privileges, though you will still be able to receive alerts.
     * This network is for Crime Alerts ONLY! Posting ANYTHING off- 
topic will result in loss of posting privileges. This is very important!

The network and this website are a work in progress, please bear with  
us as we grow and feel free to send any and all suggestions to admin at nolacrimealerts.com 
!

  http://www.NOLACrimeAlerts.com