Heartland Crime Stoppers

How it Works

Heartland Crime Stoppers encourages members of the community to assist local law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime by overcoming the two key elements that inhibit community involvement: fear and apathy.

Put simply, Crime Stoppers it is a three part approach to solving the crime. Heartland Crime Stoppers relies on cooperation between the police, the media, and the general community to provide a flow of information about crime and criminals.

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 an arrest(s), the program encourages otherwise reluctant callers to provide information.

The Phone Call

When you dial our toll free tip line at 1-800-226-TIPS, your tip information is received by a Crime Stoppers operator. There is no caller ID, and conversations are not recorded. Heartland Crime Stoppers receives the information and then passes the information to the investigating officer. Calls are accepted on any crime, no matter where the location!

Text Messaging

Crime Stoppers can now receive your tip information by text message. We realize you are not always where you can make a phone call to report tip information, therefore we have adopted a new way to take your tip information while still guaranteeing your anonymity.

Simply text "TIP196" with your tip information to CRIMES (274637). The prefix of "TIP196" is necessary for the server to know which Crime Stopper program to route your information too. Should we have questions regarding your tip information, we will be able to text message you back. We will never know your cell phone number or your identity as the server does not provide that information to us. All text messaging rates will be paid for by Crime Stoppers.

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 capabilties allow the tipster to come back and provide additional information to their tip at any time, but also provides a secure means for Crime Stoppers to ask questions or provide reward information back to the tipster through the same secure and encrypted interface.

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 Crime Stoppers program and rewards given to the public are funded by a surcharge persons convicted of crimes are assessed as part of their court fees. NO TAX DOLLARS are involved. .

Does Crime Stoppers Work?

The answer is quite simply yes. Since the start of Crime Stoppers, many calls have been received resulting in thousands of arrests and 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 purely judged on statistics, however, other benefits have come to notice:

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.

Crime Stoppers is definitely here to stay. It has been accepted by police as a valid and effective investigative tool and the public. Because of the overwhelming response, Crime Stoppers has been accepted as a more palatable alternative to traditional methods of giving information.