"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, Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County 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.
"So how does CASH FOR CROOKS work?"
CASH FOR CROOKS is a partnership between Arlington Police and Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County to utilize the public's help in reducing crime in the community by solving unsolved cases and catching wanted fugitives.
"How does Crime Stoppers work?"
The Crime Stoppers hotline, website, text message, live web chat systems, and the mobile app are operated by the Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County Call Center. The call center is staffed by off-duty public safety dispatchers and other trained personnel, who take calls, texts, and online submissions and then disseminate the tip information to the appropriate school and law enforcement contacts for investigation. Each tipster will receive a tip number to be used in all future correspondence. Every tipster remains ANONYMOUS; callers do not have to identify themselves.
"What can I do to reduce crime?"
Look through the website and see if there are any suspects or fugitives that you recognize or know. If there is, you can submit an anonymous tip directly from this page. If an arrest is made you will receive a cash reward.
"How may a student report a tip on campus?"
If a student approaches a school administrator, staff member, or officer and would like to provide a Campus Crime Stoppers tip, it is suggested that the student be allowed a private area -such as an office, the library, etc. -to use the phone or a computer to report the information to Crime Stoppers. The school administrator, staff member, or officer should give the student privacy to report the information so they will not be liable or subpoenaed to court in the future to divulge the student's identity and the information provided.
"But why should I help the police?"
Well besides the obvious monetary incentive, CASH FOR CROOKS and Crime Stoppers gives the public an opportunity to fight back against crime happening in their own neighborhoods without fear of reprisal. There are other ways to help, such as submitting any tip that involves crime in your community or spreading the word of this website and Crime Stoppers to your family and friends
"What is Gun and Gang Busters?"
In addition to the traditional Crime Stoppers money rewarded for a particular crime, Safe City Commission Crime Stoppers will add a bonus reward of up to $250 for tip information leading to an arrest(s) in gun and/or gang-related crimes in Tarrant County. The program aims at breaking down a code of silence that often exists among gangs and people who witness gang-related or gun-related crimes
"What kinds of tips are eligible for the bonus reward?"
Any tip involving the seizure of a gun, a crime in which a gun was used, or crimes that are gang-related or gang-involved are eligible for the bonus reward. Examples include but are not limited to aggravated offenses involving a gun, drug offenses involving a gang member(s), gang graffiti and criminal mischief, and coercing, soliciting, or inducing gang membership.