Capital Region Crime Stoppers relies on cooperation between the police, the media, and the public to provide a flow of information about crime in our communities.

Calling In Tips:

Phone calls are received on the Capital Region Crime Stoppers tips line phone. This phone is a stand-alone instrument that is not equipped with caller ID, so conversations are not recorded. The Capital Region Crime Stoppers tip coordinator will take the pertinent information from the caller and complete the tips information form, make initial inquiries and then pass the information to the investigating officer.

By guaranteeing a caller's 100 percent anonymity, Capital Region Crime Stoppers allows callers to provide information in a secure manner without fearing possible retribution. By offering cash rewards for information leading to indictment or arrests, the program encourages otherwise reluctant callers to come forward.

Submitting Tips Online:

Members of the community may also submit tips online. The process is completely secure and anonymous, and is a very effective and efficient means of safely communicating with law enforcement in today's world. Our WebTip process is powered by the world's leading online tip solution provider, Anderson Software.  

The unique integrated Two-Way Dialog capabilities allow those providing information to come back and add to their initial tip at any time, and also presents a secure forum in which the coordinator can pose questions or give reward information to tipsters through the same secure and encrypted interface.

Structure and Funding of Crime Stoppers

Capital Region Crime Stopper Programs is organized as a 501c(3) not-for-profit organization. A civilian community board of directors provides direction regarding the financial and promotional activities of the program. The board of directors enhances the community involvement aspect, and its function is vital to the program's success.

The Crime Stoppers program is funded by private donations and fundraising. NO TAX DOLLARS are involved. The reward money paid out by the program is generated by the fundraising efforts and donations from concerned citizens and businesses.

A community board of directors, made up of individuals from throughout the Capital Region, meets regularly to evaluate arrests and to decide on the size of rewards to be paid, up to $1,500. Rewards are then distributed in a private manner to the callers. 

Does Crime Stoppers Work?

The answer is quite simply, yes. There are over 1,000 Crime Stoppers programs worldwide, and since its inception, many calls have been received, resulting in thousands of arrests and the recovery of substantial amounts of property. Calls have included information about murder, robbery, rape, assaults, drug and firearm offenses.

The success of a Crime Stoppers program cannot be judged solely on statistics, however. Other benefits include:

• A greater awareness in the community that there is a crime problem.
• A willingness by the community to fight back against crime if it is given the opportunity and motivation.
• Improved relationships between police, media, and the community.