The Norwalk Police Department has a new tool to aid in the finding of missing persons.

The latest weapon in the fight to find missing persons is called "A Child is Missing" alert. It differs from an Amber Alert in that it can be used for any type of missing person, not just children. The system works by blanketing a neighborhood with up to 1,000 telephone calls to businesses and residences, then playing a recorded message with a description of the person. It asks anyone with information to contact police.

Norwalk Police Chief Harry Rilling says the system can provide immediate results during the most critical time period in finding a missing person. He says the system has led to more than 120 persons found nationwide in the last 44 months.