What is LeadsOnline/LeadsOnlabs?
For simplicity, we’ll just say Leads―like investigative leads. We’re the nation’s online system used by detectives for the investigation of crimes in order to catch crooks and (meth) cooks. We take in transaction information from thousands of businesses that may lead to the right suspect.
The vast majority of these transactions are legitimate, but some lead officers to the right suspect.
Is Leads a law enforcement agency?
No. We serve as an agent of law enforcement agencies. They contract with Leads to collect information to support investigations. Sending to us is sending to them….only safer and easier.
How many law enforcement agencies use Leads?
Thousands. A few states contract for our metal theft system and our MethMonitor systems statewide. More than 1,300 local agencies contract with Leads to bring all their pawn/secondhand stores online. Another couple of thousand use our eBay First Responder Service.
What crimes are solved via Leads?
Detectives search Leads to find everything from guns used in homicides - to grandma’s stolen ring – to company property sold online -
to the location of your local meth lab – to catching that guy who destroyed the church air conditioning system to get $20 worth of copper. That last guy may really want an air conditioner some day.
What information is available to investigators through Leads?
Information crooks and cooks provide in the process of buying or selling merchandise related to the crime. In most cases, it’s the driver’s license information and a description of the item bought or sold. Crooks & cooks tend to be self-centered and think they’re invisible. Imagine their surprise.
What are you doing with eBay?
Leads’ eBay First Responder Service enables law enforcement investigators to access eBay listings and certain seller membership information to aid law enforcement in finding missing property. It is another way eBay is working hard to keep illegal transactions out of its marketplace.
If an agency already has some sort of reporting process for secondhand/scrap/PSE, why would we use Leads?
Let all your detectives use it for a month on our nickel and they’ll tell you the reasons.
The list will probably start with the fact that some of your crooks/cooks are not polite enough to stay where they think you can look.
I'm a crime victim. Can you help me?
Ask your detective to give us a call. We’ll help.
How do law enforcement agencies that don’t use Leads work cases?
Without Leads, law enforcement personnel request PSE logs from pharmacies to look for meth cooks.
They drive around to scrap yards and pawnshops in freezing cold and hot sun to find out if their suspect has been there.
They sift through piles of paper and stacks of diskettes. Sound fun?
It’s a beating. Even if CSI filmed this drudgery with good-looking actors and very cool background music, no one would watch.
Why do the businesses participate?
Businesses typically have an obligation to make transaction information available for law enforcement investigations. Leads makes that process a lot easier. Everyone seems to get along better when the process works.
Do pharmacies miss PSE sales with Leads?
No. Law-abiding allergy sufferers are processed faster. As for the meth makers, pharmacy employees have been trying to keep the creepers out of their stores for years. They steal more than they buy and tend to frighten the help.
How much information is available through Leads?
A few hundred million transaction records, growing by a couple hundred thousand each day.
Does every transaction in Leads point to a crime?
Nope. Detectives aren’t interested in you and your allergy medicine. They’re not interested in the ukulele you listed online…unless of course it’s not really your ukulele. Detectives know what they’re looking for, and the bad guys stick out like a sore thumb.
Is Leads a non-profit entity?
No. This is America. Quality work = food.
Is either a city ordinance or state legislation necessary to use Leads? Does any law prevent us from using Leads?
No. The systems adapt to the laws and understandings that are in place between law enforcement and businesses. Neither want crooks and cooks in their towns.
Who pays for Leads and how?
We’re not talking about buying a helicopter here. State and local governments usually pick up the tab, and the cases solved on Leads are ultimately driven by illegal drugs. Most agencies use seizure funds, grants, and other programs designed to fight drug crime and recover stolen guns. Agencies are understaffed, and Leads helps them do a lot more with less.
Can we get the businesses to pay for Leads?
Um…you go tell ‘em. They’re willing to help law enforcement by participating, but from their point of view, Leads is a community benefit they sometimes think picking up the tab puts them on a slippery slope. You can take up the conversation with them from this point. Let us know how it goes.
Where is Leads located? How many people work for Leads?
Leads is located in north Dallas. We won’t say how many, but there are less than 50 of us. We travel everywhere. Some of us have an accent. Some of us talk just like ya’ll.
What does your company do to help make the world a better place?
You mean besides providing jobs, making the work of others more meaningful, and helping catch crooks and meth cooks all day every day? Our favorite thing is to award scholarships to “Future Leaders” – kids of law enforcement investigators who we think will do a lot of good in the world. In our first year, 14 kids received some help from Leads…from $1,000 or college tuition to a giant roll of quarters and a box of Tide.
We also support programs that cause behavioral change in prison inmates such as New Life Behavior and Prison Entrepreneurship. We figured we had something to do with them being there…we should support the people who work to keep them on the straight and narrow.
Our CEO is a big fan of CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates. He served as an advocate until we made him travel too much to keep up with his cases. CASA rocks.
Working on global warming next.
Is Leads hiring?
Sometimes. Please see our “No Flakes Policy” before calling about a job.
Does Leads require businesses to use a specific point of sale software?
No. Leads interacts electronically with any store software. Businesses don’t have to enter each transaction twice, and police don’t find themselves selling software to businesses.
Do meth makers call Leads?
Yep. We take all the calls on behalf of the agencies using LeadsOnlabs MethMonitor. The system works well, so we don’t get many from the legit users. Sort of like the Maytag repairman. Meth makers call us all the time when they can’t buy. Adds variety to the day.
What else do businesses get from using Leads?
We help businesses satisfy some of their regulatory reporting obligations, such as getting rid of paper logs for pharmacies, creating special state-specific reports for metal dealers, and checking pawnshop customer names against federal lists of drug traffickers and terrorists.
Do we have to install any software?
No.
Do we have to buy any equipment?
No.
Do you provide training?
Yes. Training may very well be our favorite activity. We have a former detective on the team who makes sure detectives stay current on new updates. She orders lots of pizza lunches for them so based on the stacks of empty boxes, we know a lot of training is going on….hmmm …
Who sees the information?
Law enforcement personnel who access Leads to solve crimes. Businesses can see the information they report, but they can not see anyone else’s.
What information security is in place?
The information coming in is encrypted. Our data center has passed SAS 70 Type II security audit (which is good – the federal government uses the same facility). If we tell you more we would have to shoot you.
Who owns Leads and what’s his/her background?
Dave Finley. Technology and telecommunications services―taking care of customers―building great teams like the one at Leads.
Why doesn’t everyone use Leads?
We thought everyone did. If you know an agency that should be using Leads, have them give us a call. It’ll knock their socks off. Tell them to wear good socks.