ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) – When can a simple piece of paper or a card become an important crime fighting tool? When it reminds residents that they can call in tips to police, without fear of being found out.

Crimestoppers Executive Director Lisa Pisciotta says a prime example is last week’s distribution of flyers into north St. Louis’ College Hill neighborhood, which had seen four shootings including three murders in a week.

Pisciotta says the number of calls coming into the hotline immediately increased and the callers credited the flyers.

“They know, they can give us the information and the officers can piece it together with what they have,” Pisciotta said.

“It was impressive to have them (police) out there and bringing awareness to the program and to the crime in the area.”

So far, police have made 34 arrests in the College Hill neighborhood, and there have been no more killings.