Douglasville Police Department is urging students to report crimes anonymously by simply texting a short message on their cell phones.

The department is publicizing its “Text-a-Tip” program with posters at county schools and other public places and on its Facebook page, Facebook.com/douglasvillepolice.

“All you have to do is dial 274637, text the keyword DVPD, plus your message,” said Capt. J. R. Davidson. “The phone number spells out “CRIMES” on the keypad.”

Davidson said the tipster’s message goes to the police anonymously.

“There’s no way for us to see who sent it,” he said. “We can have dialog with the tipsters, but they don’t have to reveal their identities, unless they want to.”

He said although the program is geared toward students, anyone can text the number to report crimes.

“We want to give kids an easy way to get in touch with police if they see something that’s not safe,” Davidson said Thursday, shortly after the tip texting program was announced on Facebook.

This latest program is another way the Douglasville Police Department is using social media to reach out to the young population.

The department launched its Facebook page last December and Police Chief Chris Womack is active on Twitter.

“We’re just trying to be progressive and get more messages out to the public,” Womack said in December. “With the number of people using the Internet and the huge market through Facebook, a lot of younger, tech-savvy officers have been asking, for some time, to do this.”

Womack credits Davidson with the department’s social media awareness.