Need to report suspicious activity in your neighborhood? There’s an App for that.

City Connect San Jose, which is a free App available for Apple and Android phones, allows you to access crime maps, submit an anonymous tips, receive crime alerts in real time and link instantly to San Jose Police Department social media.

You can type in your address and view a map of recent crimes in your area by type of crime, from homicide to disorderly conduct. You can view all the crimes or select one type of crime. You can also read a blog from your Division Captain.

You can’t, however, file a crime report. You still have to do that from a computer screen, on the phone or in person. Also, an emergency call – threat to life or crime in progress — on a smart phone uses 408-277-8911, not 911.

City Connect San Jose was one of the crime-fighting tools identified by the SJPD at a well-attended session on police strategies to keep communities safe at the recent Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force Summit at Mt. Pleasant High School.

While praising the progress of San Jose’s national recognized Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force in welcoming comments to the attendees of the February 8 event, Mayor Chuck Reed added, “ The gangs don’t stop. We need to get better every year. You can help us do that.”

Pete Brown, a resident of San Jose City Council District 4, agreed. “I don’t think we want to wait until the budgets get better,” he said during a discussion of how budget cuts have affected the police force’s ability to fight crime. “It’s up to us. If they can’t do it, we must do it.”

Crime Prevention Unit Specialists at the SJPD also have these services available to residents:

• Crime Prevention specialists will help resident organize Neighborhood Watch meetings to hear concerns and provide tips on the fundamentals of keeping your home and your neighborhood safe.
• Crime Prevention specialists are available to speak at your neighborhood association or community group meetings on such topics as gang and drug awareness, combating bullying and safety for children and seniors.
• Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers operates a 24-hour telephone line, (408) 947-STOP (7867), for residents to report crimes or criminal activity anonymously. Tips resulting in an arrest of suspects entitle the caller (identified by a code number) to cash rewards of up to $1,000.
• Ride Along with a Police Officer offers residents who are 18 or older a chance to learn about daily life on the police force. You must sign up at least a month in advance.
• TABS (Truancy Abatement / Burglary Suppression) program was brought back at the beginning of the school year to reduce truancy and burglaries that are often committed by truant students. TABS 408-926-TABS (8227).
• TEAM, Together Empowering And Mentoring is a six-week pilot program at Santee School in East San Jose providing a curriculum focused on gang prevention.