WebProNews

A query over SMS for information about crimes committed after a soccer match led to suspects coming forward.

Police have long made requests for information on crimes in places like newspapers and television. In mid-April, police in the Netherlands extended those requests to mobile phones via SMS service, an AP story said.

Local police investigating the aftermath of a riot in Rotterdam after an April 17 match obtained the phone numbers belonging to users in or around the stadium the day of the match. Then, they sent some 17,000 SMS messages requesting information about suspects who damaged train cars and caused numerous injuries.

Not only did the police receive tips, they were also contacted by four suspects. Another went to police and turned himself in voluntarily. Pictures taken by the police during the riot and posted online resulted in another 100 arrests.

It is possible the suspects who contacted police believed they had been identified. But police only obtained phone numbers, not names, from the wireless providers. The same SMS message was sent to all the number police received.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.