WHAT IS CRIME STOPPERS
Crime Stoppers began in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in September 1976 when concerned citizens joined with local media and law enforcement in an effort to help curb crime. Individuals calling with information leading to the arrest of a person or persons involved in felony offenses were paid a cash reward. To preserve the program's integrity, informants were never required to give their names. Today, there are more than 1,200 Crime Stopper programs around the world. Collectively, these programs have solved more than half a million crimes and recovered about $7 billion in stolen property and narcotics worldwide.
WHO BENEFITS FROM CRIME STOPPERS
Crime Stoppers benefits everyone – adults, children, business owners…the list is as long as it is diverse.
Crime Stoppers of Midland takes anonymous tips helping to ensure the safety of the citizens of Midland County. Crime Stoppers is not a division or department of any law enforcement agency and relies primarily on grants, fundraisers, and probation fees to operate.
WHY DO WE NEED CRIME STOPPERS
Crime Stoppers helps reduce crime – and the fear of crime – in homes, schools, and businesses. Essential to continued public safety, Crime Stoppers is the only program of its kind.
Based on the theory that someone other than the offender has information regarding the crime, Crime Stoppers was created to combat three major problems faced by law enforcement: fear of retaliation, an attitude of apathy, and a reluctance to get involved. Crime Stoppers addresses these obstacles by offering anonymity to people who provide information about a crime and paying rewards when the information supplied leads to an arrest or case solved.
