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
• Mary Jane Pearson, The University of Texas at Arlington
• Perry Pillow, Apartment Association of Tarrant County
• Cecelia Speer, Fort Worth ISD
• Dr. Mary Stanford, Texas Christian University
• Charles Swearengen, City of Hurst
• Jimmy Womack, Arlington ISD

Contact Crime Stoppers

Crime is ubiquitous and has affected everyone in some capacity at one point in their lives. If you have information about a possible crime being committed, contact Crime Stoppers. You will remain entirely anonymous and at no point will you be required to give your name or any personal information that would expose your identity.

Call Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS (8477)

Most often Crime Stoppers callers have knowledge about a crime but are afraid to approach a law enforcement official directly. They may possess valuable information about a crime that could be used to make an arrest on a felony offender or could provide the missing link in a criminal investigation.

When you call Crime Stoppers, a trained call taker will receive in all the information you provide regarding the crime. The call takers will be familiar with the area to assure that the most accurate information, including the suspect’s name and address, will be entered correctly. Do not give your name or any of your personal information; only the information that belong to the suspect(s) in the crime. The call taker will give you a tip number that will be the only method used for identifying you in future correspondence. Your tip information will be passed along to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation.

After a few weeks, contact Crime Stoppers again to check the status of your tip. The call taker will let you know the progress of your tip and whether you will get a reward of up to a $1,000. Be assured that your information will help to reduce crime in your city, in your school, and in your neighborhood.

Since the program maintains your anonymity, you will NOT be responsible for making a formal statement or giving evidence in a courtroom. Crime Stoppers does NOT use caller ID or *69; your call will NOT be recorded or traced at any time. You contact us, we do NOT contact you.

In the event of an emergency, dial 911 and report it immediately. Crime Stoppers is NOT a substitute for emergency services.

If you are a victim of crime, you should report it to your local police department.

Submit Information to Crime Stoppers Online Here.

Crime Stoppers now accepts tip information via Internet. The online tip submission form will open in a separate window. Fill out as much information as possible. After you submit your tip information, you will be given a tip number. Keep this number and after several weeks, call Crime Stoppers to receive the status of your tip. Do not use the online tip submission form for emergencies. In the event of an emergency, please dial 911.