Hamburg town police have a new program to help find missing children, students and the elderly.

“A Child Is Missing Alert,” provided free to law enforcement, helps distribute information about the missing person.

Once they receive a report of a missing person, police can contact the service with the description. Using computer mapping technology and a nationwide database for residential and business phone numbers, a computer message is sent to phone numbers in the area. Residents will be asked to check the area around their home, and a telephone number will be provided to contact police with information.