How it Works

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

The Phone Call

Calls to the local Pitt-Greenville Crime Stoppers tipline, (252) 758-7777, are answered 24/7 by a contracted call center in Texas. This service does not provide caller ID, the conversations are not recorded, they do not ask for the callers name and there is no way to trace the call. Calls are handled this way on purpose to offer tipsters a process that they can trust. The operator enters the tip into a computer system and sends it to the crime stoppers coordinator. The coordinator receives the information, reviews it, and then passes the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation. Callers can report about cases or persons listed on this website or on other matters totally unknown to law enforcement. The caller will be given log-in information where they follow up online for updates and to receive their reward.

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 arrests, the program encourages otherwise reluctant callers to provide information.

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. The tipster can type in information, but can also attach photos, maps, links to websites, news stories and more to support their tip. Our WebTip process is powered by the world's leading online tip solution provider.

The very unique integrated Two-Way Dialog capabilities allow the tipster to come back and provide additional information to their tip at any time, but also provides a secure means for the coordinator to ask questions or provide reward information back to the tipster through the same secure and encrypted interface.

The PhoneApp Tip

Tipsters can now download the P3Tips phone app on the Apple App Store or at Google Play. With the phone app being a tipster is easier than ever. Having dinner with your family and see someone at another table that you know is wanted? Pull out your phone, open the app, and submit the tip in silence as you enjoy your appetizer. If things work out well perhaps your reward will pay for dinner.

Structure and Funding of Crime Stoppers

Crime Stopper Programs are organized as not for profit organizations (charities). A civilian community board of directors provides direction as to the financial and promotional activities of the program. The board of directors enhances the community involvement aspect, and its function is vital to the program's success.

The Crime Stoppers program is funded solely by private donations and fund raising. NO TAX DOLLARS are involved. The reward money paid out by the program is from the fund raising and donations from concerned citizens and businesses. Your support is VITAL. Please consider remembering our 501(c)(3) organization with your personal and corporate charitable giving.

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. Successful tips have included information about murders, robberies, sex offenses, assaults, drug dealers, wanted fugitives 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 and how they can play a direct role in stopping it.
A willingness by the community to fight back against crime if it is given the opportunity and motivation.
Improved relationships between law enforcement, media, and the community.

Crime Stoppers is definitely here to stay. It has been accepted by law enforcement as a valid and effective investigative tool and the public, through its overwhelming response, appears to have accepted it as a more palatable alternative to traditional methods of giving information.