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 program integrity, informants were never required to give their names.

The Crime Stoppers program has enjoyed tremendous success, boasting an average conviction rate of 95% on cases solved by Crime Stoppers’ tips. Today, there are more than 1,200 Crime Stoppers programs in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Central America, and the Caribbean. Collectively, these programs have solved more than half a million crimes, and recovered about $7 billion in stolen property and narcotics worldwide.

In this same tradition, Safe City Commission Crime Stoppers utilizes information from anonymous tipsters to arrest felony offenders. Since its inception in 1982 in Tarrant County, Crime Stoppers has paid more than $1.6 million in rewards and recovered nearly $30 million in property and narcotics. Additionally, over 7,200 offenders have been arrested, with more than 12,200 cases cleared.

Who benefits from Crime Stoppers?

Crime Stoppers benefits everyone – adults, children, small business owners…the list is as long as it is diverse.

Safe City Commission Crime Stoppers takes tips for all municipalities and school districts in Tarrant County; helping to ensure the safety of more than 1.6 million citizens. Crime Stoppers relies primarily on grants and probation fees to operate.

Municipalities served by Safe City Commission Crime Stoppers:

School districts served by Safe City Commission Crime Stoppers:

Why do we need Crime Stoppers?

Crime Stoppers helps to reduce crime – and the fear of crime – in homes, schools, businesses, and communities countywide. 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 crime, Crime Stoppers was created to combat three major problems faced by law enforcement: fear of reprisal, 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.

How does Crime Stoppers work?

The Crime Stoppers hotline, 817-469-TIPS (8477), and website are operated by the Safe City Commission Crime Stoppers Call Center. The call center is staffed by off-duty public safety dispatchers and other trained personnel, who take calls and online submissions and then disseminate the tip information to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation. Each caller will receive a tip number to be used in all future correspondence. Every tipster remains ANONYMOUS; callers do not have to identify themselves. A reward of up to $1,000 will be offered to anyone who provides a tip that leads to an arrest for a crime or a criminal case cleared.

Who governs Crime Stoppers?

The Safe City Commission Crime Stoppers is governed by the Crime Stoppers Standing Committee, acting under the authority of the Safe City Commission Board of Directors.  Members of the Standing Committee are:

• Bernard Appel (Chair), Appel Associates
• Andy Corso, Fort Worth Housing Authority
• Terry Hazle, Cash America International
• Tye McClure, Bank of America 
• Perry Pillow, Apartment Association of Tarrant County
• Al Piper, Pro-Source Insurance Agency, LLC 
• Dr. Mary Stanford, Texas Christian University
• Charles Swearengen, City of Hurst
• Vicki Warren, Fort Worth ISD

Crime Stoppers Year-End Reports

2012 Report

2011 Report

2010 Report

2009 Report

2008 Report

2007 Report

2006 Report

 
Awards

2011 Best Website from Office of the Governor, Texas Crime Stoppers Advisory Council

2011 Productivity Award - Greatest Dollar Recovery, Population more than 1,000,000 from Office of the Governor, Texas Crime Stoppers Advisory Council

2010-2011 Campus Productivity Award - Greatest Dollar Recovery, Population 65,001+ from Office of the Governor, Texas Crime Stoppers Advisory Council

2010-2011 Campus Productivity Award - Most Cases Cleared, Population 65,001+ from Office of the Governor, Texas Crime Stoppers Advisory Council

2010 Productivity Award - Greatest Dollar Recovery, Population more than 1,000,000 from Office of the Governor, Texas Crime Stoppers Advisory Council

2009 Productivity Award - Most Cases Cleared, Population more than 1,000,000 from Office of the Governor, Texas Crime Stoppers Advisory Council

2009 Productivity Award - Greatest Dollar Recovery, Population more than 1,000,000 from Office of the Governor, Texas Crime Stoppers Advisory Council

2008 Productivity Award - Greatest Dollar Recovery, Population more than 1,000,000 from Office of the Governor, Texas Crime Stoppers Advisory Council

2007 Business Partnership Award from Arlington Police Department