Crime Stoppers

Crime Stoppers encourages members of the community to assist local law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime by overcoming two (2) of the key elements that inhibit community involvement: fear and apathy. Crime Stoppers provides an anonymous telephone number, Text Tips and Web Tips to encourage citizens in the community to volunteer vital information helpful to law enforcement agencies to fight against crime.

The Crime Stoppers program began in 1977 from the efforts of local police departments and the Cuyahoga County Chiefs of Police Association. Our program now operates as an independent organization. The concept has developed into a combination of efforts by local media, businesses, civic and social clubs, law enforcement agencies and the public. Donations of airtime, newspaper space, and reward monies have established Crime Stoppers as an effective tool to fight crime in the area.

Why do we need Crime Stoppers?

Crime Stoppers is based on the principal that someone other than the criminal has information that can solve a crime and was created to combat the three major problems faced by law enforcement in generating that information: fear of reprisal, an attitude of apathy and reluctance to get involved. Crime Stoppers resolves these problems by offering anonymity to people who provide information and paying rewards when the information supplied leads to arrest.

Crime Stopper Programs are organized as a not for profit organization (charity). A civilian community board of directors provides direction as to the financial and promotional activities of the program. The board of directors enhances the community involvement aspect, and its function is vital to the program’s success.

The Crime Stoppers program is funded by private donations and fund raising. The reward money paid out by the program is from the fund raising and donations from concerned citizens and businesses.

A community board of directors, made up of persons from throughout the area, meets on a monthly basis to evaluate arrests and to decide on the size of rewards to be paid, up to $2,500. Rewards are then distributed in a private manner to the callers. Callers are eligible for rewards up to $2,500, but, despite this, many callers choose not to collect their rewards.

The Phone Call  -   Hotline 24/7

Calls are received at the local Crime Stoppers tips line phone. This phone is a stand alone instrument which does not provide caller ID, and conversations are not recorded. The information is taken, initial inquiries are made, and then it is passed to the investigating officer. Calls are accepted regarding any publicized request for information, such as "Crime of the Week" or any other crime(s) the caller has knowledge of.

By guaranteeing a caller`s anonymity Crime Stoppers allows the caller to give information in a positive atmosphere without the prospect of retribution. By offering cash rewards for information leading to indictment or arrests, the program encourages otherwise reluctant callers to provide information.

The Online Web Tip / Text Tip

Tipsters now have the option of giving us tips online or texting. The process is completely secure and anonymous and is a very effective and efficient means of safely communicating with us in today's world. Our Web Tip & Text Tip process is powered by the world's leading online tip solution provider, Anderson Software.  

The very unique integrated Two-Way Dialog capabilities not only allows the tipster to come back and provide additional information to their tip at any time, but also provides a secure means for the coordinator to ask questions or provide reward information back to the tipster through the same secure and encrypted interface.

Does Crime Stoppers Work?

The answer is quite simply yes. Since the start of Crime Stoppers, many calls have been received resulting in thousands of arrests and recovery of substantial amounts of property. Calls have included information about murder, robbery, rape, assaults, drug and firearm offenses.

The success of a Crime Stoppers program cannot be purely judged on statistics; however, other benefits have come to notice:

  • A greater awareness in the community that there is a crime problem.
  • A willingness by the community to fight back against crime if it is given the opportunity and motivation.
  • Improved relationships between police, media, and the community.

Crime Stoppers is definitely here to stay. It has been accepted by police as a valid and effective investigative tool and the public, through its overwhelming response, appears to have accepted it as a more palatable alternative to traditional methods of giving information.

Anonymous tipline: (216) 252-7463

Web tips: www.25crime.com

Text tips: Text TIP657 plus your message to 274637

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Volume 8, Issue 8, Posted 1:19 PM, 08.11.2016