AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Amarillo Crime Stoppers is on track to take a record number of tips this year as they reached their 1,000 tip for the year. With four months left to go in the year it will surpass last year's numbers shortly. In 2008, the program received a total of 821 tips, and in 2009 1,062 tips were received.
The 1,000th tip came in via telephone, though Crime Stoppers can receive tips by text and web tips. So far this year, tips have resulted in 94 arrests and 129 cases being cleared. Most tips the program receives are related to the Fugitive of the Week which is aired on local television and radio.
Crime Stoppers pays rewards using a system that allows information to be collected and callers to be paid without anyone knowing the identity of the caller. Information or tips may be combined or compared with information that officers or investigators already know.
An investigator or particular police unit, or officer is given the information from the tip, and it is then investigated. Some tips results in an arrest in minutes, or the information may trigger a new investigation.
Crime Stopper officials say awareness and ongoing public support of the program is why it is a success.
