Oxnard to Join Crimestoppers

Oxnard will ante up about $5,000 to join Ventura County Crimestoppers, a countywide nonprofit group offering rewards for anonymous tips that help solve crimes.

Oxnard Lt. Tom Cady said the Police Department hopes Crimestoppers will supplement other community outreach efforts, including a weekly TV show, a graffiti reward program and Neighborhood Watch.

“We’ve asked for the public’s help,” he said. “And this is one way for them to do that.”

Ventura County Crimestoppers began as a small program in 1986 in Thousand Oaks. Since then, it has grown to include Moorpark, Camarillo and Port Hueneme. Fillmore runs a separate but similar program.

Ventura County’s program has paid out 71 rewards totaling $24,575. Tips through Crimestoppers have led to 178 arrests and have helped clear 283 cases, most of which were drug-related, said Sheriff’s Sgt. Kitty Hoberg, who coordinates the program.

But Crimestoppers has also experienced growing pains. Since the program expanded several years ago, it has been short of funds, Hoberg said.

Because of the shortage, Oxnard was required to raise about $5,000 in start-up reward money, something the other cities were not required to do.

Oxnard service organizations and individuals have pledged about $4,500 to the program, Hoberg said. Several Oxnard residents have volunteered to serve on the Crimestoppers Board of Directors, which plans fund-raisers and votes on reward amounts.

In addition, Oxnard police must set up a separate telephone line for tipsters, staff it and train workers on how to question callers.

Cady said the department hopes to have its Crimestoppers line working within the next two months.