What happens when you call Crime Stoppers?

January is Crime Stoppers month.

The organization got its start in New Mexico in 1976 following the murder of a university student during a gas station robbery in Albuquerque.

A local detective came up with the idea to partner with a TV station to produce a video re-enactment of the crime, then he put up his own money to encourage tips, guaranteeing anonymity to anyone willing to come forward with information. The case was quickly solved.

The idea expanded across North America — launching here in Nova Scotia in 1987 — and around the world.

According to the president of Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, there are now over 1,900 Crime Stoppers programs operating in 29 countries.

“Crime Stoppers is a non-profit community based program that offers a cash reward for successful information that leads to an arrest and charges laid,” John O’Reilly stated.

That amount ranges from $50 up to $2,000.

The organization doesn't receive any government funding. It's staffed by volunteers and relies on fundraising to operate.

“There's a misconception, people think we are part of a police agency, which is far from the truth,” O'Reilly said.

He told CityNews Halifax, when they get information, they pass it along to police guaranteeing complete anonymity to the caller, which he says is vital to the integrity of the program.

“The Supreme Court of Canada a number of years ago ruled that Crime Stoppers, we are not allowed to trace calls, we're not allowed to subscribe to caller ID or do anything else whatsoever that can identify the tipster,” O'Reilly explained.

That means when police get the information, the investigators don't know anything about the person who provided it.

“It is okay to make the call,” O'Reilly assured. “You are protected.”

He said roughly 35 per cent of tipsters aren't interested in getting the cash reward, but for those who do want the payment, they are given a confidential number, then told to call back later to see if the information successfully led to charges in a case.

If so, an meeting will be arranged in a public place during daylight hours where an envelope of cash will be passed over by a volunteer to the tipster.

Anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers can be called in at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). They can also be submitted online through the organization's securely encrypted website or through the P3 Tips App, available on Android or iOS.