Individuals who provide information about unsolved cases or wanted subjects may be eligible for cash rewards. Lancaster City/County Crime Stoppers is located in southeast Pennsylvania and is a non-profit organization of citizens against crime. Originally an arm of the Lancaster Kiwanis Club, Crime Stoppers established a separate organization and is comprised of a volunteer board of directors. Lanc
aster City/County Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $1000 to individuals furnishing information that leads to the arrest of criminals, including those committing serious felony crimes, and fugitives. Information received through Crime Stoppers is secure and may be provided anonymously. Tips may be provided by calling our toll-free tip number (1-800-322-1913) or by submitting a secure web tip through our CrimeWatch page. Information explaining how to provide a tip is located on the CrimeWatch home page. Each caller is assigned a code number for the purpose of insuring anonymity and that code number is later used to provide a reward. What is Lancaster County Crime Stoppers? It is a volunteer organization of local citizens and business people dedicated to the reduction of crime, to the prompt solution of crimes, and to rewarding persons who provide information that leads to the arrest of criminals. Boiled down into simpler terms, Crime Stoppers is a group of concerned people who gather funds to reward individuals who provide information anonymously to our police agencies so that they can solve unsolved crimes. What Type of Organization is Lancaster City/County Crime Stoppers? Crime Stoppers is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation which was founded in 1987 through the efforts of the Kiwanis Club of Lancaster, Pennsylvania State Police, Lancaster City Police and the Lancaster County Chiefs of Police Association, as well as citizens of the State. The By-Laws for the organization were adopted in May 1987. Crime Stoppers is currently partnered with Lancaster Newspapers. How Does Crime Stoppers Work? Crime Stoppers utilizes a multimedia approach, for solving crime, designed to gather evidence and information on unsolved crimes through the cooperation of all the local media. Each week a fugitive or unsolved crime is selected by the Crime Stoppers Police Coordinator, who distributes the information as supplied by the investigating agency, to the media publication. This is known as the Crime of the Week and may result in a reward of up to $1,000 for the individual who supplied the information needed to solve the crime or capture the fugitive. Why is Crime Stoppers Different? Crime Stoppers is different from all other programs designed to gather criminal information because in this program the informant can remain completely anonymous and still receive the reward money. Individuals do not give information for one of two reasons; they fear retaliation or do not want to get involved. Crime Stoppers provides an incentive for individuals to provide information about an unsolved crime, while being able to remain completely anonymous. Tipsters can provide information by using the Crime Stoppers telephone hotline and CrimeWatch web tip. When an individual has information about the Crime of the Week or other unsolved crimes, they can simply pick up the telephone and call the Crime Stoppers Hotline or submit a tip through the CrimeWatch page. The tipster is assigned a code number with no names given. When information leads to a capture or arrest in an unsolved case, the tipster may qualify for a reward and will be given further instructions. How is the Program Administered? Crime Stoppers is administered by a civilian Board of Directors who have complete control of the operations of the organization. The Board, with input from all Lancaster City/County law enforcement agencies and primarily the Crime Stoppers Police Coordinator, will determine the amount of the rewards and eligibility. Committed reward amounts are subject to change and must be voted on by the Board for approval of amounts. How is the Program Funded? Contributions are being solicited from service organizations, social clubs, business me-women, corporations, and interested residents. Crime Stoppers is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(C)(3) of the IRS Code, so all contributions will be tax-exempt. Mail contributions to: Lancaster City/County Crime Stoppers PO Box 7475 Lancaster PA, 17604.
