Central Alabama CrimeStoppers, a non-profit organization that helps authorities capture crime suspects, has opened a new telephone line that allows the area's growing number of Spanish-speaking residents to report illegal activities in their own language.
The 24-hour, toll-free Spanish line started early last week to help law enforcement capture suspects who either target the Hispanic population or commit crimes within it, director Susan Moss said.
The service fills a big need, according to Anthony Ross, a marketing major at Auburn Montgomery who is originally from Spain and who helped the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs promote the service.
Ross said criminals know "you can commit crimes against Hispanics and get away with it." Hispanics have become an "easy target" because criminals know "they are not going to go to the police," he said.
There are many reasons for that, he said. Undocumented workers who are the victims of crime are afraid if they go to authorities, they'll be questioned about their immigration status and that could lead to their being deported.
Others don't know the way America works, and some simply can't speak English, Ross said.
The 888-525-STOP number works exactly the way the local tip number 215-STOP does -- callers offer a crime tip anonymously, which is passed on to authorities.
Moss said calls under the "press two for Spanish " option are sent directly to a CrimeStopper call center in Texas. The messages are translated into English via specialized software called Tipsoft and are sent back to the central Alabama office.
Once the message is received, it can be forwarded it to any law enforcement agency in the state, she said.
If the tip results in an arrest, a cash award is given via a secret access code.
CrimeStoppers is promoting the new service by going to churches that offer Hispanic worship services and passing out information sheets.
Pastor Mario Aman, who leads the Hispanic worship service at Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church, said the hotline is great news.