Delaware Crime Stoppers is a member of Crime Stoppers USA and the National Crime Stoppers organization that spans the United States. Together, these organizations have built a network of local US programs that work together to help prevent and solve crime in communities and schools within our state and across the nation.  Delaware Crime Stoppers will strive to become an effective deterrent to crime by assisting local law enforcement agencies to resolve outstanding crimes, aid in the apprehension of criminals, and to enhance the quality of life in our state by helping prevent crime.

Delaware Crime Stoppers is seen as the Premiere Community Based Crime Solving Program in the State of Delaware.

Our Goals include:

• Supporting existing community and school crime fighting programs.
• Encouraging and assisting the growth of community and school Crime reporting programs throughout the State of Delaware.
• Enabling Crime Stoppers to be the most cost effective crime solving tool for law enforcement.
• Maintaining a strong communications network within the State of Delaware and among US Crime Stoppers programs, law enforcement, media and the general public.

When you see a crime in progress the first thing to do is dial 911. Delaware Crime Stoppers is NOT a law enforcement agency nor are we an emergency reporting center.

If contacting a police agency is not a good option for you, then call the Delaware Crime Stoppers Tip Line 1-800-TIP-3333 or just search for P3 Tips mobile app available on the iOS and Android platforms for free and provide your anonymous information with your mobile device.

Delaware Crime Stoppers accepts information on any crime or fugitive. We forward the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation.

Delaware Crime Stoppers also accepts information concerning welfare and medical fraud. This information is then forwarded to the proper agency for investigation.

Rewards are based on various factors of the crime. We treat our callers in a confidential and professional manner. We guarantee anonymity by never asking for or taking your name. Phones are not equiped with caller ID nor are email IP addresses recorded within our anonymous tip reporting systems. We know you only by your assigned code number.

No police will come to your home - it's completely ANONYMOUS. Best of all, we pay CASH REWARDS if your tip leads to an arrest.

What is Crime Stoppers?

Delaware Crime Stoppers program is a non-profit organization led by dedicated citizens against crime. Delaware Crime Stoppers is part of the global network of Crime Stoppers USA and Crime Stoppers International.  Delaware Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $1000 to persons providing anonymous information that leads to the arrest of criminals and fugitives. Delaware Crime Stoppers receives information through anonymous and secure tip lines or through a secure web connection. Our 1-800-TIP-3333 is supported by our call center at Crime Scene Information, Inc., Each call is answered by a trained professional and is assigned a code number for the purpose of follow up while insuring anonymity.

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:

Crime Stoppers resolves these problems by:

• Offering ANONYMITY to people who provide information about crimes. 
• Paying REWARDS when the information supplied leads to arrest.

History

When a young college student, Michael Carmen, was shot to death during a robbery at an Albuquerque, New Mexico gas station in July 1976, Detective Greg MacAleese had no idea who was responsible for the killing.

No witnesses came forward and it appeared the senseless and brutal shotgun slaying would remain a mystery.

MacAleese, who worked for a newspaper before joining the Albuquerque Police Department, knew something innovative would be necessary to encourage the public to get involved and help solve the murder.

He conceived the idea of producing a video re-enactment of the homicide, guaranteed anonymity for anyone who was willing to call him with information and put up a reward from his own pocket to encourage someone to provide a lead that would help identify those responsible for the murder of Carmen.

It seemed almost unnecessary to take such extraordinary steps to solve the killing of Carmen. It was a case that should have outraged the community and brought forth many witnesses.

Carmen was only two weeks away from getting married and had taken an extra shift at the gas station to give a co-worker the night off. When police responded to an emergency call they found Carmen gravely wounded. He's been shot in the abdomen at point blank range with a 12-gauge shotgun.

The medical staff kept him alive for four hours and during that time he tried to tell detectives who was responsible, but he just didn't have the strength to form the words.

At that time Albuquerque had one of the highest per capita crime rates in the country and people were afraid to help the police.

MacAleese's plan to identify those responsible for killing Carmen worked. Within a few hours after the recreation of the murder was broadcast on television station KOAT, he received a phone call. The video image had triggered the memory of a person who heard a loud bang in the vicinity of the gas station and then saw a car driving off. The caller told MacAleese the vehicle belonged to a resident in a nearby apartment complex.

Through investigation MacAleese and a team of detectives arrested two men within 72 hours and charged them with the murder of Carmen and a string of armed robberies.

MacAleese received other calls following the reenactment, including one that allowed police to solve the rape of a young woman. Realizing that this type of program might be useful in fighting crime, MacAleese convinced the Albuquerque Police Department to allow a group of citizens to establish the first Crime Stoppers program.

For his efforts Detective MacAleese was named one of the people in the 1970's who changed the face of the United States and was also named the country's Police officer of the Year. It's also interesting to note that since adopting Crime Stoppers Albuquerque's crime rate has dropped significantly and no longer is ranked in the list of 20 cities with the highest per capita crime rate.

Members of the local community, media and law enforcement, came together in partnership to begin the effort to provide crime-solving assistance to law enforcement, and the first Crime Stoppers program was born on September 8, 1976.

A cash reward was offered to individuals that provided anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers with information which would lead to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for the crime. The local media publicized the first “Crime of the Week” and the phone number to call with the information. A call received by the program resulted in the arrest of three men, within 72 hours, who had been involved in the homicide of the young college student that had occurred 4 months earlier.

Today, Delaware Crime Stoppers programs are a part of the global reach around the world and are represented by the Nation/Regions of the United States, Canada, Caribbean and Latin America, Europe, Australia, and the South/Western Pacific.

The Delaware Crime Stoppers programs have enjoyed great success with the information received which has led to the arrest and indictment of those responsible for committing felony offenses, boasting an average conviction rate of approximately 95% on cases solved by a tip to the program.

Three Essential Elements Make Up our Crime Stoppers Program

Crime Stoppers is a partnership between the Community, the Media and Law Enforcement.

Community

Delaware citizens were responsible for forming a Crime Stoppers non-profit corporation whose directors establish policy, determined amount and method of reward payments, work closely with law enforcement and the media and generally oversee the program. Our directors are also responsible for fund raising, and all volunteer services. Delaware Crime Stoppers programs are supported by the public through tax deductible donations from businesses, corporations, individuals, service organizations along with various grants.

Media

Crime Stoppers is publicized on a regular basis by all media outlets including print, broadcast and web-based partners. Special attention is given to unsolved crimes, cold cases, narcotics activity, wanted fugitives, and suspected terrorist and gang activity.

Law Enforcement

Local law enforcement agencies receive and process the anonymous tips received through Crime Stoppers. If the information leads to an arrest, the caller will be paid up to $1,000.00 for their information.

Delaware Crime Stoppers, established in 1983, is dedicated to serving our community and all of Delaware Law Enforcement.   Crime Stoppers aids law enforcement agencies by increasing community awareness of Crime Stoppers through educational programs, effective tip programs resulting in arrests, providing law enforcement with the resources to increase effectiveness thus building a strong partnership with law enforcement.