NYPD Crime Stoppers Increase Reward for Crime Tips to $3,500

By Yehudit Garmaise

     The NYPD’s Crime Stoppers program has increased the reward from $2,500 to $3,500 for New Yorkers who witness crimes to report them.   

     “We encourage community members to come forward, if they have been witnesses to crimes or if they know any information [about any crimes,] Mayor Bill de Blasio said this morning at his press conference. “We understand people need encouragement and incentives. When you call, you do something important to protect yourself, your families, and your fellow New Yorkers.”

     New Yorkers have heard the call to come forward more often to report crimes, said Mayor de Blasio, who was amazed to announce that the NYPD has been able to solve more than 5,600 crimes as a result of tips that have been called into (800) 577-TIPS.

     As a result of the 1,000 tips that New Yorkers have reported on every kind of crime: from hate crimes to homicides, in 2020, the NYPD made 66 arrests and indictments, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison, who also mentioned that “all those tipsters were paid.”

     “Crime Stoppers' vehicles have been deployed to 850 scenes, which is one of the things that we have to continue to do for New Yorkers to feel comfortable coming forward and giving us information.”

     In 2021, however, the mayor said that the number of calls that were made to the NYPD tips line has declined. So far this year, only 500 tips have been received.

     “We need to bring that backup,” the mayor said. “We need information. We need help. We need the community to step forward.”

   Mayor de Blasio’s Crime Stoppers program is part and parcel of his often-cited belief that police departments and communities must work together to fight crime.

     “The community has to be deeply involved,” the mayor said. “The more involved the community, the better the outcomes for all of us.”

     Policing cannot work by itself, the mayor said. 

     Plus, the mayor pointed out, “$3,500 is real money, to say the least. For so many New York City families, that would make a big difference.”

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.