(ASHEVILLE) -- With technology evolving, law enforcement agencies across the state are having to explore new ways to evolve with it. Asheville Police Department Lt.Wally Welch said his department now accepts crime tips through texting and soon it may be doing the same through social media.

Welch said a new online crime mapping system also gives the public a chance to track crime in near real-time.  "Knowledge is power and what we hope to do is give the community enough information so that we can help them understand crime trends in their neighborhoods and perhaps ultimately lower the crime in their neighborhood," said Welch.
 
Welch added that younger officers are commonly using social media to make connections between suspects. Those sites have even been used to verify the true identity of suspects.

(Thanks to: WWNC)