Arlington County Crime Solvers has received a grant from a place some people might think unusual–a Crime Solvers program in another state.
Prince George’s County Crime Solvers gave the $2,000 grant to foster cooperation between the two counties. The money will go directly toward rewarding anonymous tipsters for reporting crimes.
Arlington County Crime Solvers President Andres Tobar says because some people who witness a crime don’t feel comfortable talking to police, they may not report the information at all. Crime Solvers allows these people to call in anonymously, and receive a reward for tips that lead to an arrest and conviction.
Tobar emphasizes that criminals often commit crimes in a variety of neighborhoods, so jurisdictions need to work together to catch the offenders. He says it’s in the best interest of all jurisdictions to make sure that people from neighboring communities can call in tips.
Tobar also says that there has been much turnover on Arlington’s Crime Solvers board, and they are actively recruiting. He notes that Prince George’s County has a strong board, and this grant helps show the commitment to improving Arlington’s board.
“This is a very nice shot in the arm for us,” Tobar said. “It’s also a gesture of faith on the part of Prince George’s County that we will use this to move our organization forward. We will not disappoint them.”
Any members of the business community who want to get involved or join the Arlington Crime Solvers board should contact Andres Tobar at 202-841-7998, or [email protected]. Citizens who have tips to anonymously report can call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).