Schenectady officials want to take illegal guns off the street -- and they're willing to pay for them.

City officials are offering cash for residents who turn over illegal guns or pay a reward for information leading to the arrest of people with illegal guns.

Under a program unveiled yesterday, police say they'll offer $100 for every illegal gun turned in, whether it is a handgun or sawed-off shotgun. Rifles and other legal weapons are excluded.

They also will offer $500 for the information that results in the arrest of a person with an illegal gun.

The money will come from a $900,000 state crime-fighting grant awarded to the city police, Schenectady County Sheriff's Department, the county DA's office and the county Probation Department.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)