Program Details

Crime Stoppers

Crime Stoppers of Ventura County allows anyone in the community to anonymously give information regarding any felony crime committed in Ventura County. Local newspapers, radio and television stations feature information on an unsolved CRIME OF THE WEEK. A cash reward may be paid for information concerning these and other crimes.

If you would like to volunteer as a member of the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors, please write to the address listed below.

Crime Stoppers works because:

• You remain anonymous and there is no fear of retaliation
• It is not necessary to testify in court
• Cash rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and issuance of a complaint

Remain anonymous and report information pertaining to any felony crime or felony fugitive in Ventura County by Contacting Crime Stoppers

By phone: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
By the web: http://www.VenturaCountyCrimeStoppers.com
by texting: "tip375" and your tip to CRIMES (274637)

The Crime Stoppers reward fund is composed solely of donations from you and other citizens concerned about crime. We need your help! If you would like to become involved in Crime Stoppers or would like to make a tax-deductible contribution, write to:

Ventura County Crime Stoppers
P.O. Box 811
Camarillo, CA 93011

Crime Stoppers going strong, adds Simi Valley

By Alexandra Lin
Ventura County Star Staff writer
November 24, 1998

After 11 years of helping law enforcement officials solve more than 500 cases, including five homicides, Ventura County Crime Stoppers is still going strong.

The nonprofit crime reporting hotline, also known as "the secret witness" program, has attracted another new member city and is also trying to expand a new program targeting students who bring weapons and drugs to school.

Simi Valley is the latest city to join Crime Stoppers in Ventura County. Most of the major cities in the county are now represented on the board, except Santa Paula.

The Simi Valley Police Foundation agreed last month to give $2,000 to the Crime Stoppers reward fund to start the program.

"The whole purpose of the foundation is to fund programs that are going to have some bearing on public safety," said Simi Valley Councilman Paul Miller.

Since Crime Stoppers has worked so well for neighborhoods and businesses, the organization now feels it can do just as well on junior high and high school campuses.

Scholastic Crime Stoppers is already in place in west Ventura County, but has yet to catch on in the east.

"What we're trying to do is adopt it for our (whole) county," said Jackie Youngern, president of the Ventura County chapter of Crime Stoppers.

Students are asked to report drug abuse or anyone possessing weapons at school to a trusted administrator. The administrator then reports it to Crime Stoppers and a $50 reward is given to the student if drugs or weapons are confiscated.

However, for more serious situations, students are encouraged to call the regular Crime Stoppers hotline.

Youngern, a former patrol officer with the Compton Police Department, is thrilled with the hotline's success, but believes more people would pick up the phone if they were sure they wouldn't be the target of retaliation.

"I think people need to be assured that it's completely anonymous," Youngern said.

The caller, who doesn't give a name or phone number, is given an identification number after information is taken down by a volunteer. The same number is also used when claiming the reward, which can be up to $1,000. The reward is given in cash at a prearranged meeting place.

Youngern bristles when Crime Stoppers is compared to We-Tip, a national crime reporting hotline.

Crime Stoppers, unlike We-Tip, is completely run by volunteers, Youngern said.

Also, Crime Stoppers pays a reward upon arrest, but We-Tip's award money is given only after conviction.

Money raised for Crime Stoppers is used only within Ventura County, she added.

To report a crime, call: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).