Now Offering a Downloadable App for Online Tips
The Virginia Peninsula Crime-Stoppers was established in 1982 to aid law enforcement in fighting crime. Through the Crime Line, members of the community
can assist the Newport News Police Department in the fight against crime by overcoming the two key elements that may inhibit community involvement: fear and apathy. Crime Line provides a telephone number and online submission form to encourage citizens in the community to volunteer vital information which assist the department in the fight against crime. There are two ways to submit a tip to Crime Line:
Call 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887)
Calls are received at the local Crime Line tips line phone located in the Public Information Office of the NNPD. This phone is a stand-alone instrument which does not provide caller ID, and conversations are not recorded. The person receiving the information completes the tips information form, makes initial inquiries and then passes the information to the investigating officer. Calls are accepted regarding any publicized request for information, such as the weekly wanted ad in the local paper or such other crime(s) the tipster has knowledge of.
Online at www.p3tips.com
By going to
www.p3tips.com, you can submit a tip online. Online tips are also anonymous and you are not required to testify in court. You are also eligible for the reward should your tip result in an arrest. And,
p3tips.com has a downloadable app for both iPhones and Androids.
By guaranteeing a tipsters anonymity Crime Line allows the tipster to give information in a positive atmosphere without the prospect of retribution. By offering cash rewards for information leading to indictments or arrests, the program encourages otherwise reluctant tipsters to provide important information.
Crime Line is organized as a not for profit organization. A civilian community board of directors provides direction as to the financial and promotional activities of the program. The board of directors enhances the community involvement aspect, and its function is vital to the program’s success.
The Crime Line program is funded by private donations and fund raising. No tax dollars are involved. The reward money paid out by the program is from the fund raising and donations from concerned citizens and businesses. A community board of directors, made up of persons from throughout the area, meets on a monthly basis to evaluate arrests and to decide on the size of rewards to be paid, up to $1,000. Rewards are then distributed in a private manner to the tipster.
Does Crime Line Work?
The answer is quite simply, yes. Since the start of Crime Line, many tips have been received resulting in thousands of arrests and recovery of substantial amounts of property. Tips have included information about murder, robbery, rape, assaults, as well as drug and firearm offenses. The success of a Crime Line program cannot be purely judged on statistics, however, other benefits include:
- A greater awareness in the community of crime.
- A willingness by the community to fight back against crime if it is given the opportunity and motivation.
- Improved relationships between police, media, and the community.
Crime Line is definitely here to stay. It has been accepted by police as a valid and effective investigative tool. So, if you have information about a crime, submit your tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or online at
www.p3tips.com.