CLICK & DOUBLE CLICK: LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS YOUR HELP TO SNAG FUGITIVES VIA INTERNET (COLUMN 27)

Cybertip: Surf the Net for free tonight at Cape Girardeau Central High's A-Plus Computer Lab at 1913 Whitener from 7-9 p.m. Beginners to advanced "surfers" are welcome. You must reserve a spot in advance by calling 334-3857. Other upcoming Community Appreciation Nights are March 4 and 18, April 8 and 22, and May 6 and 20.

A big concern these days is crime on the Internet, but law enforcement agencies have found the Internet may be a good way to nab criminals. A number of agencies -- across the globe -- have put up their "Most Wanted" lists.

The state of Missouri recently joined the trend by posting felons on the run from justice. These Missouri's "most wanted" can be found on the home page of Attorney General Jay Nixon. The site carries photographs and descriptions of fugitives wanted by local law enforcement agencies from around the state on such charges as rape, robbery and stealing.

http://services.state.mo.us/ago/wanted.htm

Peggy: Is there anyone we know?

Joni: No. Actually two of the seven most wanted have already been caught. They give you phone numbers on who to contact if you have seen one of them.

Peggy: The experts on tracking criminals would be the FBI. They have lots of information at this web site, but I suspect their Top 10 list is the most visited place. You can find it at

http://www.fbi.gov

Joni: The 10 photos load pretty fast. You click on any of these photos to see what these guys have done. This "most wanted" is sought in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The reward is up to $4 million. But before you get any bright ideas, it says several times in bright red letters that he is considered armed and extremely dangerous.

Peggy: The FBI says 131 of the 10 Most Wanted arrests have resulted from public participation. Since the Most Wanted list was started in the 1950s by J. Edgar Hoover, about 450 fugitives have been listed. Only seven have been women. Are the Top 10 ranked? No, either you are on the list or not.

Joni: The FBI also works with television programs "America's Most Wanted" and "Unsolved Mysteries." So far, America's Most Wanted has helped capture 449 fugitives.

http://www.amw.com

Peggy: With the Internet, the manhunt transcends borders and time zones. The hunt is on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This web site tells us: "We bring you the cases and the clues. You help slap on the cuffs." The site is linked to the weekly program and is updated to coincide with the fugitives featured each week.

Joni: The nice thing about this page is that it talks about fugitives but also gives you tips on how to stay safe. Public Enemy No. 1 is wanted for the attempted murder of a police officer and the kidnapping and torture of an ex-wife.

Peggy: These are ugly stories: A father wanted for murdering his entire family, a New York City cabdriver charged with abducting infants and killing their mothers, a crazed woman wanted for a double murder. The site is written a lot like the television show, a tad sensational, but it seems to work. You can look at the most recent captures.

Joni: You can e-mail specific information on when and where you saw a suspect, why do you believe it was the fugitive, etc. It's pretty detailed.

Peggy: In addition to seeking fugitives, the show attempts to locate missing children and is using the Internet to get it done. Since the show started, 20 children have been reunited with their parents.

Joni: "Unsolved Mysteries" boasts of having more than 260 cases solved by viewers. They are also responsible for 93 reunions. They do more than just look for fugitives. They find missing siblings, lost loves and other missing people.

http://www.unsolved.com

Peggy: They boast a successful capture rate of about 40 percent of the fugitives profiled on the show since its premiere. The pages are updated each week after a new show airs. But if you are interested, you can review unsolved cases from the past year. One of the fugitives they are looking for now is the suspect in the death of Bill Cosby's son.

Joni: Under the update section you can read about their successes and those who have been reunited. It's easy to read and written in a very conversational tone. But if you want more police conversations, listen to real cops on the beat via AudioNet at

http://www.policescanner.com

Peggy: It's a site for "scannerHeads." You need AudioNet and at least a 14.4 modem. You can listen to several police and fire scanners in real time as well as a link to an air traffic control tower. They also plan to develop a chat room called "Scanner Chatter."

Joni: Are you at risk for becoming a victim of crime? There are three tests that can be found off the Metro Nashville Police pages to let you know.

http://www.Nashville.Net/(tilde)police/risk/

Peggy: This site isn't for the faint of heart. The tests: "Are you going to be raped, robbed, shot, stabbed or beaten?" "Are you going to be murdered?" "Is someone going to break in and burglarize your home?"

Joni: It's an interactive test. You answer the questionnaire and the results are then immediately returned. There are a lot of questions on these tests that will get you thinking about how vulnerable you are.

Peggy: You can also link to the Nashville Police's virtual reality site. Nashville has some pretty computer savvy police officers. They have been using the technology to produce linked panoramas at violent crime scenes for jury presentations. Now you can take a look too. You have to download a player.

Joni: They also feature a citizen's police academy. You can learn more about the department and then test for a certificate.

Peggy: You can also download an interactive game called Danger High that takes you to a virtual high school where you stand a chance of being stabbed, beaten up, insulted or meeting a gorgeous math teacher. It takes 133 minutes to download with a 14.4 modem.

What's your favorite crime site? E-mail us at movnldd.net.

See you in Cyberspace.

~Joni Adams is managing editor and Peggy Scott is graphics editor at the Southeast Missourian.