This program is a three part approach to fighting crime. Crime Stoppers relies on cooperation between the police, the media, and the general community to provide a flow of information about crime and criminals.

The Phone Call

Calls are received at the Crime Stoppers tips line phones. We do not have caller ID, and we won't ask your name. The Crime Stoppers call taker receiving the information completes a tip information form, makes initial inquiries, and then passes the information to the investigating agency.  

Our program would fail if we did not protect our callers' anonymity, and we won't let that happen!  We work diligently to make sure a caller's identity is safe, and we are backed by case law at the Supreme Court level. 

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

The Online WebTip

Tipsters now have the option of giving us tips online. 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 WebTip process is powered by the world's leading online tip solution provider, Anderson Software.  

The very unique integrated Two-Way Dialog capabilties allow 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.

Structure and Funding of Crime Stoppers

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 fund raising efforts, and donations from concerned citizens and businesses.

A community board of directors, made up of persons from throughout the area, meets on a bi-monthly basis to evaluate arrests and to decide on the size of rewards to be paid, up to $1,000. Rewards are then distributed in a private manner to the callers. Callers are eligible for rewards up to $1,000, but, despite this, many callers choose not to collect their rewards.

Does Crime Stoppers Work?

The answer is quite simply yes.  Since the start of the South Bend Area Crime Stoppers program, thousands of calls have been received resulting in over 6,000 arrests and the recovery of almost $14.3 million in stolen property and narcotics. 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 by the public, as evident by the overwhelming response.  Crime Stoppers; it works!