About Lethbridge Crime Stoppers
The mission of Crime Stoppers is “to create a safer, more secure community.”
The Crime Stoppers Association of Lethbridge is a non-profit, community-based organization that partners with the Lethbridge Police Service and the RCMP. Of course we are also closely associated with the other Crime Stoppers Associations, particularly here in Alberta, but also across Canada, north America, and to some extent worldwide!
To ensure its success, Crime Stoppers depends on donations from individuals and corporations. Thanks to the tremendous support the program has received, Crime Stoppers has been truly successful.
Why Do We Need Crime Stoppers?
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 REWARDS when the information supplied leads to arrest.
Three Essential Elements Make Up a Crime Stoppers Program
The Community: Citizens become more involved and make a strong contribution towards solving crime in their communities.
The Media: Crime Stoppers methods, objectives, successes and phone numbers are publicized on a regular basis by the media. In Edmonton, for example, an unsolved "Crime of the Week" is given special treatment with details published in the Edmonton Sun, on radio and in some cases a re-enactment on television on Global-Edmonton and Shaw TV.
The Police: A special Crime Stoppers phone with a well-publicized number is provided to the community. Callers are assigned a special Code number and NEVER give their names. If, after the investigation, the information leads to an arrest, the caller is entitled to a reward.
Tipsters can also submit their tips online while continuing to remain anonymous.
History of Crime Stoppers
Crime Stoppers was started in Albuquerque, New Mexico when (interestingly enough!) 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 success boasting an average conviction rate of 95% on cases solved by Crime Stoppers tips. The Crime Stoppers programs worldwide have solved over a half a million crimes and recovered over 3 billion dollars worth of stolen property and narcotics.
Today, there are over 1,000 Crime Stoppers programs in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Bahamas, British West Indies, Micronesia, and other nations.
- Click on the photograph to submit a tip online
- Click for a map of Crime Stoppers organizations in Alberta
- Watch for the Crime Stoppers Chrysler on local streets!