How Crime Stoppers Tips Lead to Arrests

Anonymous tips play a vital part in the safety of Bermuda. When members of the public contact Crime Stoppers, the information they give travels down a chain to create real world impact. Here’s how the information we receive is used to solve crimes and make arrests.

Step one: tips are anonymised

After you submit a tip to our online form or by calling 800-8477, our team compiles it into a report. Any identifying information is removed, leaving just the facts you have shared about the crime. We take details about many kinds of criminal activity, but keep in mind that there are some instances where we cannot accept your report – for example, if you are the victim of the crime.

Step two: the report is given to law enforcement

As a charity, we work to facilitate the reporting of crimes, but we are not a part of the police ourselves. Once the report is ready, it is passed to the relevant law enforcement agency. A programme coordinator decides where to send your tip – sometimes this is the police, but it can also be specialised units like the coast guard or Child and Family Services.

Often, the Police programme coordinator will carry out initial research about ongoing crimes that your information may relate to, before choosing where your tip goes.

Step three: law enforcement investigates

Law enforcement uses the information in the report to carry out their work. This involves researching the tip, and taking steps to verify its accuracy – ensuring that nobody is set up with malicious intent.

An anonymous tip alone is not enough for a search or arrest warrant, but sometimes, it’s the last piece of the puzzle needed. Other times, the information is kept and used as part of a larger investigation – it can be years before a tip is acted on.

More than 1,353 crimes have been solved with the help of Crime Stoppers tips. Even if information doesn’t lead directly to an arrest, it can lead law enforcement towards key witnesses or a clearer picture of events.

How can I claim a reward?

In some instances, we offer a reward for information that leads to an arrest or the seizure of firearms. As the person who left the tip remains anonymous throughout this entire process, we use a unique number system for every report. This number will be given to you when you make a report, and you can use it to track the progress of the tip here. When an arrest is made, this same number can then be used to claim the reward.

Report crime anonymously

If you have information about a crime, it could form a significant part of an investigation. Our online form and phone line do not collect IP addresses or caller ID, ensuring that your information will be received discreetly. Even if you accidentally give us identifying information, it will be removed before the report is given to law enforcement.

Report online or call 800-8477