Is there a way to report a crime without getting too involved?

I call 911 from payphones and refuse to identify myself.

Well, I’ve reported various crimes without ever feeling at risk, so I’d consider the specific way you are afraid of putting yourself or others at risk.

You can phone in an anonymous tip from a pay phone or public phone, or write an anonymous letter, if you are convinced there is some real danger. Or tell someone about it who swears to secrecy, like a reporter or lawyer (who might have other ideas) or clergyman. Or tell the police on condition of not being called to testify.

Maybe print a screen shot and fax it to the police from somewhere? Maybe if you star 70 it will block your information? You could test it with a friends fax.

I considered the screen shots but then the witness’s name would show up also.

How about print your screen shot (but block out the name) and use gloved hands when you touch the paper (fingerprints). Send it in an envelope with no return address.

I think it would need to be a pretty serious crime for an anonymous facebook screenshot to kick off an investigation, right?

Isn’t your ex going to know it’s you anyway?

Does your community have a secret witness program? I would google “secret witness” and “your town”

@funkdaddy It’s a highly publicized investigation right now and the authorities seem completely unaware that there was a second person involved in it. The person taking the fall for it is likely too afraid of the what the other person’s family and friends are capable of doing if they rat them out. As am I. But I do want to see justice served and I don’t want to be in trouble for withholding evidence. No matter what, the safety of my son is priority so if snitching on them is going to cause potential threats from anyone, I’d like to avoid it altogether.

@bolwerk had the simplest idea. Why not just do that? Tell them you have an anonymous tip and leave the rest to them.

Many communities have a phone line for leaving anonymous tips about crimes. Look in the front few pages of your local white pages for such information. Call from a public phone to make it easier to remain anonymous.

@Dr_Lawrence The only thing I wonder is whether my word would do any good. The message is the proof. Without that, it just sounds like a made up story.

They might be able to Supoena his Facebook records? Then they could find it from his side.