Crime Stoppers is a community crime prevention organization that rewards anonymous tipsters while supporting law enforcement partners to solve and stop crime.
Crime Stoppers is based on the principal that “someone other than the criminal has information that can solve a crime” and was created to combat the three major problems faced by law enforcement in generating that information:
- · A fear of REPRISAL
- · An attitude of APATHY, and
- · A reluctance to get INVOLVED
Crime Stoppers resolves these concerns by:
- · Offering ANONYMITY to people who provide information about crimes.
- · Paying cash REWARDS when the information supplied leads to arrest.
Crime Stoppers was started in Albuquerque, New Mexico when a Canadian-born Albuquerque Police Department detective reached a dead-end in a homicide investigation. Frustrated by the lack of clues, he appealed to a local television station and enlisted the station’s co-operation in a re-enactment of the crime. The re-enactment was televised on a local newscast.
The detective offered a reward out of his own pocket and a caller contacted the police the next day after seeing the re-enactment. The tip information was enough to lead police to the two men who were responsible. Within 72 hours of the re-enactment being aired, the police had solved the murder. This was the beginning of Crime Stoppers. So successful was this first effort, the program was continued and expanded. The Crime Stoppers program has enjoyed great worldwide success boasting hundreds of thousands of crimes being solved and billions in stolen property and narcotics has been seized. Today, there are over 1,400 Crime Stoppers programs in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Bahamas, and other nations.
In Edmonton and Northern Alberta, the Crime Stoppers program was introduced by a local business owner. His daughter had been assaulted and the police had no leads even though the attack happened during broad daylight. He went to the Chief of Police to ask if there was any way that he could help, and the Chief told him of the Crime Stoppers program. Along with the support of the police and media, this business man gathered other community stakeholders and founded Crime Stoppers in Edmonton and Northern Alberta in 1982. In the early years, Crime Stoppers had many successes and enjoyed much community support for the program. Crime Stoppers Telethons were held annually to raise funds for the community-driven program. Every year, hundreds of tips would be reported and many crimes were solved.
Crime Stoppers currently has two employees and a very dedicated Board of Directors. Our Board Members are leaders in Edmonton and area’s business community and have a passion for Crime Stoppers’ mission. They volunteer their time and talents to promote and support Crime Stoppers and give direction to the organization.
Crime Stoppers is a charity and we often rely on volunteers to help with re-enactments, community events, and fundraising. We have a great group of people that are committed to organization. Crime Stoppers continues to be successful because of their contributions.
Crime Stoppers’ primary role is to collect anonymous tips from the public. There are many ways to submit a tip, all of which are described in detail on our Tip Process page.
Crime Stoppers is a community organization that does not rely on government or funding from the police. We work hard during the year to raise funds to continue to offer the invaluable anonymous tip line. These are some ways that we raise funds:
- One-time or monthly giving. We receive donations either through the mail or online at CanadaHelps.org from people who would like to simply give towards Crime Stoppers.
- Casinos. Every 18 months, Crime Stoppers is awarded a casino by AGLC. This requires many volunteers to staff, but is a significant source of funds for the program.
- Caught by Crime Stoppers Jail Bailout. This is our annual signature fundraising event and one of our biggest fundraisers. Find out all about it by visiting www.caughtbycrimestoppers.com!
- Re-enactment Sponsorship. Crime Stoppers works with Global Television to produce and air crime re-enactments. These clips are seen hundreds of thousands of times by viewers across the region. Global allows Crime Stoppers to sell re-enactment sponsorship packages to offset the cost of producing these spots. Companies purchase these packages to both support Crime Stoppers and promote their organization.
- Magazine. We publish a magazine four times each year that is free to subscribers on our mailing list. We work with Crime Watch Publications to sell advertising space in the magazine that helps support Crime Stoppers.
- Golf Tournament 50/50s. We work with organizations that run annual golf tournaments for their employees/clients. Crime Stoppers is named the beneficiary of their 50/50 and Mulligan sales and we provide volunteers to sell these items to their participants. We bring signage, the license, and tickets – it’s easy for the tournament organizer and is a great way for Crime Stoppers to raise funds!
- Grants. Not only does Crime Stoppers offer the anonymous tip line, but we also provide other programming focused on crime prevention and education. Some examples of this include C.S.Y. (Crime Stoppers Youth) and our upcoming Habitual Impaired Driving campaign.
Crime Stoppers would not exist without the generous contributions of individuals and businesses in the community. Please consider partnering with us in one of the ways listed above or by simply making a donation today.
As a general statement, Crime Stoppers Association of Edmonton and Northern Alberta is described as Maskwacis (formerly Hobbema) and north. The tip line phone number (1-800-222-8477) is the same throughout Alberta (and most of Canada). There are five Crime Stoppers chapters in Alberta: Edmonton & Northern Alberta, Central, Calgary, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat.