What is Crime Stoppers?

Crime Stoppers is a community-based initiative which encourages members of the community to provide information on unsolved crimes and wanted persons, as well as information on persons they know that have committed criminal offenses and have not been arrested. Persons providing information may qualify for a cash reward up to $1000 if their information leads to an arrest. Informants who provide information can remain anonymous, if they wish.

History of Crime Stoppers

Crime Stoppers is a community based policing service which allows the community to give information on the telephone. A number of the Crime Stoppers Units within the United States are active members of Crime Stoppers International, a movement which began in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1976.

A local police officer was continually frustrated about the increasing crime rate in his area. He complained to his wife constantly, to the point where she told him to do something about it. So he did. He started Crime Stoppers in America in Albuquerque and it is now an international operation.

The Crime Stoppers program has enjoyed great success boasting an average conviction rate of 95% on cases solved by Crime Stoppers' tips. The Crime Stoppers programs worldwide have solved over a half a million crimes and recovered over 3 billion dollars worth of stolen property and narcotics.

Today, there are over 1,000 Crime Stoppers programs in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Bahamas, British West Indies, Micronesia and other nations.