About

 

The original Crime Stoppers program was created in 1976 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Citizens were encouraged to call in crime tips and promised anonymity and cash rewards. Virginia Beach Crime Solvers was established in 1982 by a group of local business owners responding to the growing crime rate. Our program quickly became a world leader in helping law enforcement solve and prevent felony crime.

Mission of Virginia Beach Crime Solvers

Virginia Beach Crime Solvers mission is to solve and prevent crime in the Virginia Beach area in partnership with citizens, media and the criminal justice system.

What Virginia Beach Crime Solvers Does

Virginia Beach Crime Solvers utilizes 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, a telephone tip line. Information about criminal activity is received and transferred to law enforcement for immediate action. Callers are promised anonymity and cash rewards of up to $1,500 in exchange for their accurate crime tips. Our organization provides a safe forum for citizens to report crime in their neighborhoods without the fear of retaliation. We are the eyes and ears of law enforcement in the community.

Crime Solvers is not a police program or a media program. It is an independent community organization working in partnership with the Virginia Beach Police Department to make Virginia Beach a safer place to live, work, and play.

How Virginia Beach Crime Solvers is Funded

Monies to fund Virginia Beach Crime Solvers comes from people like you, from businesses sponsors, and special fundraising events. We receive zero government funding. Your taxes do not pay for Crime Solvers. This is truly a community based program.

History of Crime Solvers

The Crime Stoppers concept started in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1976. A teen was shot and murdered during a robbery, in a well-traveled, well-lit area of town on a busy Friday night. Weeks of investigation turned up no clues, and no one who saw the incident offered information or assistance.

Detectives decided that there were two reasons why no one offered assistance on this case. Either the public was afraid for their own physical safety from the culprits or they just did not care or want to get involved. To solve the problem of fear for their well being, tipsters were offered anonymity, and to combat apathy they were offered cash rewards.

Police could not offer rewards for anonymous information, so they needed a community board that could raise the money and pay the rewards. The community stepped up to the plate in masses.

In order to spread a detailed account of the crime to the community as well as the anonymity and rewards, they needed the help of the media. Assistance was offered by the media and the first ever Crime Stoppers reenactment was done. It resulted in a case-solving tip the very next day! Furthermore, it also solved 4-5 other violent crimes.

Word spread quickly regarding this incident and soon there were other U.S. programs and Crime Stoppers U.S.A. was formed.  In 1982, Canada followed thus in 1984 Crime Stoppers International was born.  Virginia Crime Stoppers Association formed in 1982 and currently there are 56 active programs throughout the Commonwealth.

Currently there are 1,192 recorded programs throughout the world.  Countries with programs are:  Antigua, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Great Britain, Jamaica, Korea, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, Northern Ireland, Palau, Poland, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Netherlands, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, and the Ukraine.

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