In July
1976, in Albuquerque New Mexico, a university student was killed
during a gas station robbery. After 6 weeks of investigation the
police had very few leads as to who was responsible. Detectives
believed those responsible for the crime were local people, that
somebody must have information, and for some reason was unwilling
to speak to the police.
Police investigators
thought that if the public was able to observe a reenactment of
the crime on television this may lead to a citizen providing
information that may lead to an arrest. An officer thought
of a ‘hotline’ for callers to pass on information anonymously
hoping this may allow people to tell what they knew. He persuaded
local businesses to finance the scheme and a television station to
publicize it.
The police investigators were right. A caller contacted the police
the next day after seeing the reenactment. The tip information was
enough to lead the police to the two men who were responsible.
Within 72 hours of the reenactment being aired, the police had
solved the murder. Unexpectedly, information about many other
crimes, some of which had not even been reported to the police,
was also received on the hotline. The Crime Stoppers concept was
born
Since the program started, there are now more than 950
Crime Stoppers programs
worldwide. More than 425,000 crimes have been solved since its
inception and over $1 billion worth of stolen property and
narcotics have been seized.
Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry was set up
in 1983 to break the wall of silence that surrounds
most crime and that criminals exploit to avoid arrest in the
South
Carolina Lowcountry. The
anonymous number provided a lifeline to people who had information
that they wanted to share but felt at risk from retribution.
The
800-222-tips(8477) number ensures that no one need ever know who
you are when you call. You will not be asked your name, your call
will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to give a
statement or go to court.
It’s a simple, secure service that allows us to put the police
in the picture, without anyone knowing who provided the
information that puts criminals to justice. Working in this way we
have created a highly effective system built on integrity and
trust that works for everyone - except criminals.
