Lake County Crime Stoppers, an independent organization that focuses on fighting crime in the area, reported that calls made to the organization regarding possible or suspected crimes increased during 2011 compared to 2010. Although Lake County residents may have the best intentions to report suspected crimes or criminals in an effort to create a safer community for all citizens, false accusations of drug crimes or sex crimes could cause a great deal of legal problems for innocent residents.

Lake County Crime Stoppers was created in 1983. The organization gives cash rewards to individuals who offer tips about crimes and criminal suspects. The organization will even give out cash rewards to tipsters without obtaining any personal information from the tipster. Since the organization was created, more than $888,000 has been awarded to individuals who have reported information about crimes. These tips have also helped local police to confiscate more than $27 million in contraband and stolen property.

The organization has certainly helped police to crack down on criminal activity, but not all calls to Lake County Crime Stoppers have resulted in arrests or charges. According to the organization, 993 calls were made to the organization in 2011 compared to 959 calls in 2010. However, only 446 cases were closed with only 356 cases amounting to valid information about criminal activity.

Based on information from callers last year, police made a total of 177 arrests and more than $28,000 was awarded to tipsters. But in 2010, arrests based on information from callers totaled 185 and resulted in more than $30,000 in awards to citizens.

During 2011, law enforcement was able to recover more than $568,000 in property and more than $714,900 in drugs as a result of information they received from Lake County Crime Stoppers callers.

Source: Lake County News-Sun, "Crime Stoppers calls up, rewards down," Jan. 23, 2012