Fighting crime

Few not-for-profit programs can claim the success CrimeStoppers has had.

The system is simple: Collect donations, offer those rewards for information about crime and criminals and pay out when the information leads to prosecution. And it is working all over the world.

There are at least 1,158 CrimeStoppers programs in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, South Africa, Micronesia and other nations. The first CrimeStoppers program began after an Albuquerque, N.M., gas station attendant was shot in July 1976. After six weeks of trying to solve the murder, police approached a local television station and asked for a re-enactment of the crime. Police captured the shooters the next day, and CrimeStoppers was born.

As of Sept. 27, the international program reported totals of over a million cases cleared, over a half-million arrests, $64.6 million paid out in rewards, $1.5 billion in property recovered and $4.4 billion in narcotics recovered.

These are heady figures.

Cape Girardeau has seen similar results on a much smaller scale. The local program began in 1997, the year after three thugs terrorized the city's elderly.

In the summer of 1996, terrified senior citizens started reporting home invasions. The invaders demanded money and, in some instances, cut phone lines and wielded knives. They beat a 90-year-old disabled woman who suffered a cut hand as she was dragged across a floor. They hit a man with a board and broke his wrist as he was trying to give them his wallet. They threatened to beat an elderly married couple with a nail-studded board.

At least 16 burglaries targeting the elderly were reported that year. When residents began offering reward money, the police and volunteers launched Cape Girardeau's own CrimeStoppers. Today, the program is coordinated by the police department and a 13-member board.

Out of 449 total calls received by Southeast Missouri CrimeStoppers since its inception, anonymous tipsters have received $13,670 in cash rewards for providing tips to recover fugitives, stolen property and drugs. Suspects have been sought for crimes ranging from gang-style shootings to probation violations.

The police send pictures, descriptions and crime information to the Southeast Missourian and a television station. Those who know where the suspects can be found are urged to call the tip line at 332-0500.

In addition, those who are aware of crimes can call in tips about those suspicious activities or knowledge of crimes about to be committed. There's a payment scale in rewards based on the seriousness of the crime.

It would be nice if everyone reported crimes because that's what good citizens are supposed to do. Until that day comes, CrimeStoppers is a program worthy of community support.