Champaign County Crimestoppers - Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS CRIMESTOPPERS?

CrimeStoppers is a Not-For-Profit, Anti-Crime program designed to provide citizens a means to anonymously report criminal activity to the police.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS - HOW DOES CRIMESTOPPERS WORK?

When you call, the trained call taker will take your information, record it on a form and assign you a secret code number. The process will be explained to you. The information received immediately goes to the Investigations Department for action.

IS MY CALL ANSWERED LOCALLY?

Yes, calls come into the Champaign Police Department or the University of Illinois Police Department and are answered by trained staff.

HOW IS MY CALL AND IDENTITY PROTECTED?

Callers to the TIPS line do not give their name. They are assigned a secret code number which is then used in all subsequent contacts. The phone does NOT have Caller ID, and your call is NOT recorded.

HOW ELSE CAN I CONTACT CRIMESTOPPERS?
You can also leave an anonymous web tip by going to the Champaign County Crime Stoppers website at www.373tips.com. Text tips from a cell phone can be sent by texting the following:

TIP397 plus the tip information to CRIMES (274637).

WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION IS CRIMESTOPPERS LOOKING FOR?

CrimeStoppers is looking for information that will lead to an arrest for an unsolved crime, or for a person who has a warrant. These are featured in the newspaper, radio, television, and the CrimeStoppers web site (www.373tips.com).

ARE THERE OTHER THINGS I CAN REPORT?

Information on any crime, or fugitive can be reported. Information may also be reported on arsons and false alarms. Pulled false fire alarms are a felony.

HOW WILL I KNOW IF I AM ELIGIBLE FOR A MONETARY REWARD?

When you call the TIPS line to report your information, you will receive information and instructions on when to call back. It's very important that you keep your secret code number. It's the only tool you have to check back on the incident and get a possible reward.

HOW DO I RECEIVE MONEY?

If your tip leads to an arrest (not conviction) you will be paid in cash in an envelope. We do not issue checks because we do not know your name. If you qualify for a reward, you will be instructed on where and when to pick up your money.

WHO DETERMINES REWARD PAYMENTS?

CrimeStoppers is governored by its Board of Directors. The Board, composed of dedicated residents of Champaign County meets monthly to determine which calls merit a reward payment and the amount of each payment. Various items are taken into consideration including the helpfulness of the information and the severity of the crime.

Information, photos, and representations published on this website could include technical inaccuracies, typographical errors, and/or dated information and therefore should be verified with local law enforcement agencies to insure authenticity. Champaign County Crime Stoppers makes changes, corrections, and improvements regularly but it is not liable for any damages allegedly sustained arising out of the use of the information, photos, and representations herein. Champaign County Crime Stopper's only liability in the event of errors shall be the correction or removal of the erroneous information after verification.




	WHAT IS CRIMESTOPPERS? CrimeStoppers is a Not-For-Profit, Anti-Crime program designed to provide citizens a means to anonymously report criminal activity to the police. WHAT IS THE PROCESS - HOW DOES CRIMESTOPPERS WORK? When you call, the trained call taker will take your information, record it on a form and assign you a secret code number. The process will be explained to you. The information received immediately goes to the Investigations Department for action. IS MY CALL ANSWERED LOCALLY? Yes, calls come into the Champaign Police Department or the University of Illinois Police Department and are answered by trained staff. HOW IS MY CALL AND IDENTITY PROTECTED? Callers to the TIPS line do not give their name. They are assigned a secret code number which is then used in all subsequent contacts. The phone does NOT have Caller ID, and your call is NOT recorded. HOW ELSE CAN I CONTACT CRIMESTOPPERS? You can also leave an anonymous web tip by going to the Champaign County Crime Stoppers website at www.373tips.com. Text tips from a cell phone can be sent by texting the following: TIP397 plus the tip information to CRIMES (274637). WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION IS CRIMESTOPPERS LOOKING FOR? CrimeStoppers is looking for information that will lead to an arrest for an unsolved crime, or for a person who has a warrant. These are featured in the newspaper, radio, television, and the CrimeStoppers web site (www.373tips.com). ARE THERE OTHER THINGS I CAN REPORT? Information on any crime, or fugitive can be reported. Information may also be reported on arsons and false alarms. Pulled false fire alarms are a felony. HOW WILL I KNOW IF I AM ELIGIBLE FOR A MONETARY REWARD? When you call the TIPS line to report your information, you will receive information and instructions on when to call back. It's very important that you keep your secret code number. It's the only tool you have to check back on the incident and get a possible reward. HOW DO I RECEIVE MONEY? If your tip leads to an arrest (not conviction) you will be paid in cash in an envelope. We do not issue checks because we do not know your name. If you qualify for a reward, you will be instructed on where and when to pick up your money. WHO DETERMINES REWARD PAYMENTS? CrimeStoppers is governored by its Board of Directors. The Board, composed of dedicated residents of Champaign County meets monthly to determine which calls merit a reward payment and the amount of each payment. Various items are taken into consideration including the helpfulness of the information and the severity of the crime.



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Information, photos, and representations published on this website could include technical inaccuracies, typographical errors, and/or dated information and therefore should be verified with local law enforcement agencies to insure authenticity. Champaign County Crime Stoppers makes changes, corrections, and improvements regularly but it is not liable for any damages allegedly sustained arising out of the use of the information, photos, and representations herein. Champaign County Crime Stopper's only liability in the event of errors shall be the correction or removal of the erroneous information after verification.