COLUMBIA FALLS — A new app available on smartphones is helping police fight crime in Columbia Falls.

Columbia Falls police partnered with tip411 at the start of the new year creating a new Columbia Falls Police Department app.

The app allows residents to connect with police, find information and submit anonymous tips from their smartphones.

In just one month’s time, Columbia Falls Police Chief Clint Peters says the app is making a major impact.

Peters said anonymous tips are helping police fight crime in a number of different ways.

“Drug activity, some have been that the street lights are out, some have been information on ongoing cases that we’ve used, and even one that we’re using in a case to kind of build towards a DNA case, so it’s been really successful so far,” said Peters.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Columbia Falls Police Department’s website.