Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is a non-profit citizens’ organization created in September 1981 to aid the law enforcement community in reducing the crime rate. It was a project of the Palm Beach Crime Prevention Officers Association.

The Board of Directors are made up of twenty-one concerned citizens, who actively help to guide the program. They are directly responsible for all fund raising and the administration of the reward monies. The Board of Directors meets monthly to coordinate projects and review progress.

Day to day administration of Crime Stoppers and the student Crime Stoppers programs is the responsibility of the Police Coordinator, a sworn investigator who is appointed to that position by the Sheriff of Palm Beach County and the civilian Board of Directors of Crime Stoppers.

The Crime Stoppers concept originated in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1976. Its success exceeded all expectations. By the end of 1986 over 600 more organizations formed throughout the United States and Internationally. Although each operate independently, all rely on the original formula for success. Because of that success there are over 1,200 active programs working together with commitment and cooperation of law enforcement, the media, and the public.

South Florida’s first crime re-enactment aired by Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County on September 9, 1981, on WPEC TV-12. Each day unsolved felony crimes committed here in Palm Beach County, is requested to be advertised by Crime Stoppers for local law enforcement agency needing assistance in solving that particular crime. The crime is brought to the attention to the public on all local television stations, cable stations, radio, newspapers and web sites, are used to inform the public.

Many other Crime Stoppers programs are advertised such as, Palm Beach County’s “Wanted Fugitives,” “Student Crime Stoppers,” and other successful programs within the Crime Stoppers program. This tool that the media gives Crime Stoppers helps reach those people who may have information about an unsolved crime.

Each crime advertised reinforces the message, “If you know something about this case, or any other serious crime, in Palm Beach County, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS (8477). If your information leads to an arrest, recovery of stolen property, or seizure of narcotics, you may be eligible for up to $3,000 reward.”

The validity of information received on the “Tips” line is checked by the Program Coordinator, then disseminated to the appropriate law enforcement agency. There are over thirty such agencies in Palm Beach County. The caller is assigned a special “code number” and advised to call back at a specified interval of time, to check on the progress of the case. In all future contacts, the caller is identified only by that code number, thus maintaining the anonymity.

There are three (3) ways to report crimes anonymous through the Crime Stoppers and Student Crime Stoppers programs:

• By “PHONE”, calling 1-800-458-TIPS (8477)
• By “COMPUTER”, logging onto www.crimestopperspbc.com “Report a Crime” (adult program) www.studentcrimestopper.com (student program)
• By “CELLULAR PHONE”, text messaging using the P3 Tips app:
  

All three methods will allow you to tell us what you know about a serious crime, remain anonymous and be eligible for up to $3,000 reward. Everyone can make a difference. Make your community a safer environment to live in, call CRIME STOPPERS. You don’t need to give your name, just your information.

You do! Every citizen in Palm Beach County reaps the benefits:

• Criminals are apprehended, prosecuted and convicted
• Stolen property is recovered
• Vast amounts of narcotics are taken off our streets
• Hundreds of investigative hours are saved

We’re fighting CRIME one call at a TIME. Crime hurts, UNREPORTED crime hurts more.

CRIME STOPPERS of Palm Beach County receives NO City, County, State, or Federal funding. It is a community project supported only by voluntary contributors of money, goods, or services. Donations are sought from private sources, corporations, retailers, and the individual citizen. This effort keeps the CRIME STOPPERS program functional, providing reward moneys and basic operating materials.

Crime Stoppers works. But it needs your support if it is to continue to be successful. Contributions to the reward fund are needed on a continues basis, the more successful the program, the greater the funds necessary. Donations of video equipment for unsolved crimes, printing and graphic services for brochures, fliers, posters, etc., production of promotional items such as T-shirts, caps, mugs, bumper stickers, etc., and billboard space, are also needed. Volunteers can also help with publicity, mailing and fund-raising events.

The responsibility of fighting crime belongs to all of us, not just law enforcement alone. Citizen involvement is our greatest asset in Crime Stoppers assisting law enforcement. So get involved – Help Solve a Crime – Support CRIME STOPPERS of Palm Beach County.