GLENDALE : Crime Stoppers Tips Lead to 1st Arrests

Nearly five weeks after its inception, a new anti-crime effort in Glendale that offers cash rewards to anonymous informants had netted arrests in two crimes, and organizers said they hope to catch more criminals as the public becomes more aware of the program.

Glendale Crime Stoppers, a nonprofit corporation that will pay up to $1,000 for tips that lead to an arrest, chalked up its first arrests just one week after the program was announced to the public Feb. 23. A caller led police to a 20-year-old man and 19-year-old woman who were later arrested on felony drug and illegal weapons charges, said Rick Barnes, president of the Crime Stoppers board of directors.

“We have not had a lot of arrests so far, but we’re very happy with the way people are responding to the program,” Barnes said. “We’re receiving a lot of calls on our hot line and the Police Department is investigating several leads right now that could lead to some arrests for serious crimes.”

While the Crime Stoppers board, whose members are local business people and residents, is dedicated to keeping crime at bay, Barnes said an arrest in a high-profile crime may be what the group needs to draw attention to itself and make more people aware that they can phone in crime tips with anonymity and without fear of retribution.

The Crime Stoppers hot line, (818) 507-STOP, is answered at the Police Department and callers who leave a tip are given a number with which to identify themselves. In the event that the tip leads to an arrest--although not necessarily a conviction--the tipster and a member of the Crime Stoppers board meet confidentially to dole out the cash.

The tipster’s name is never taken, and officials with the program hope that as more people realize this, they will use the hot line.

“Fear of retaliation, real or imagined, is one of the biggest hurdles we have to battle in the Police Department,” said Sgt. Leif Nicolaisen, a liaison between the group and police. “People are much more willing to come forward with information if they are promised anonymity.”

In addition to the drug and weapons case, Crime Stoppers has also paid out a reward to a person who gave information leading to the arrest of a man suspected of burglary and passing stolen checks, but the victim declined to press charges and the case was dropped, Barnes said.

Officials would not disclose the cash amount of the two rewards, but said both were under the $1,000 maximum. The amount of a reward is determined by the severity of the crime, Barnes said.

“We do find that people who call us are very aware of the reward. When they hear that the individuals have been arrested, they call us back and say, ‘When do I get my money?’ ”

Funds for rewards are solicited by the Crime Stoppers board. The volunteer group, which has no paid employees, hopes to eventually accrue a purse of about $15,000, which will pay for the rewards, plus publicity and administrative costs, Barnes said.