Put simply it is a three part approach to solving the crime problem. 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 local Crime Stoppers tips line phone. This phone does not provide caller ID, and conversations are not recorded. The Crime Stoppers Coordinator receiving the information completes the tips information form, makes initial inquiries and then passes the information to the investigating officer. Calls are accepted regarding any publicized request for information, such as "Crime of the Week" or such other crime(s) the caller has knowledge of.
By guaranteeing a caller's anonymity Crime Stoppers allows the caller to give information in a positive atmosphere without the prospect 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 capabilities 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.
The "P3 TIPS" Smart Phone App
Tips can be submitted on the spot with you Iphone ar android phone. Go to your app store and install the P3 TIPS app. With this app you can give us tips and even include photos.
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 programs success.
The Crime Stoppers program is funded by private donations and fund raising. NO TAX DOLLARS are involved. The reward money paid out by the program is from the fund raising and donations from concerned citizens and businesses.
A community board of directors, made up of persons from throughout the area, meets on a 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 yes. Anonymous Crime Stoppers tipsters are credited with providing information which in recent months has solved several Peninsula crimes. In one of the largest property related cases, an anonymous caller provided information which helped clear a series of theft and burglary cases on the Kenai Peninsula. Property with a combined value of approximately $100,000 has been recovered. Arrests have been made and multiple felony charges have been filed.
A different Crime Stoppers tipster informed a Peninsula business about ongoing theft that was resulting in large financial losses. This case is still under investigation but the losses have been curtailed.
In other local cases, a Crime Stoppers tipster received a reward for providing information that led to the arrest of an armed robber, and a cold police case involving damage to a residential dwelling was resolved, and a perpetrator charged, thanks to another rewarded Crime Stoppers caller.
Since its inception, Peninsula Crime Stoppers, Inc. has paid out more than $18,000 in rewards to individuals who helped solve crimes on the Kenai Peninsula. If you have information which can help police solve a crime, you can contact Crime Stoppers by dialing 907-283-TIPS (8477) or provide tips online at www.peninsulacrimestoppers.com. You will not be asked to give your name, and you will not be required to appear in court. If your information is useful, you may receive a $1000 reward. If a tip is approved for a payout, the individual has 90 days to claim their reward.
The success of a Crime Stoppers program cannot be judged on statistics alone. There are other benefits have come to notice:
Crime Stoppers is definitely here to stay. It has been accepted by police as a valid and effective investigative tool and the public, through its overwhelming response, appears to have accepted it as a more palatable alternative to traditional methods of giving information