SANFORD — The Sanford Police Department has partnered with Sanford Regional Communications Center to offer a service known as “Text-a-Tip,” that allows the public to anonymously submit information to the Police Department.

“Text-a-Tip will allow people to report any suspicious activity to the police. Additionally, people may send information about crimes that may happen, or crimes that happened in the past,” said Sanford Police Chief Tom Connolly in a prepared statement.

Chief Connolly said Text-a-Tip should not replace dialing 9-1-1 in an emergency. A tip submitted via text or online may not be viewed immediately, if you need immediate police service, or if you are reporting a crime as it is happening, dial 9-1-1.

The Text-a-Tip service allows a tipster and the investigator to have a two-way dialog while keeping the tipster’s identity completely anonymous. When a tip is submitted it is routed to a server in Canada where it is stripped of its identifying information and assigned a temporary number. The information is then directed to the Sanford Police Department. Officers can respond by using the tip’s assigned number, but they cannot trace who sent the tip unless the person volunteers that information. Access to the tip line can be managed and any abuse will result in responsible parties being blocked from future use.

There are three ways to submit an anonymous tip: Text the keyword SANFORD and your tip to CRIMES (274637); Download the TipSubmit Mobile app on a smartphone and choose Sanford Police for your agency when you submit a tip; and Submit a tip online at www.tipsubmit.com/webtips.aspx?AgencyID=1252.

The service is funded by Maine’s Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Program and is provided by the company Public Engines.