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History
Crime stoppers first began in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the USA during July
1976 which saw the fatal shooting of a university co-ed working one night at
a local filling station. After two weeks the police had no information when
out of desperation a Detective MacAleese approaches the local television
station requesting a reconstruction of the crime. The re-enactment offered
US$ 1,000.00 for information leading to the arrest of the killers. Within 72
hours, a person called in identifying a car leaving the scene at high speed
and he had noted its registration. The person calling said that he did not
want to get involved so he had not called earlier. Detective MacAleese then
realized that fear and apathy were the primary reasons why the public tended
to not get involved. So he helped design a system where the public could
anonymously provide details of the events. To overcome these he targeted
three areas of need:
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Stimulating community
involvement and participation in Crime stoppers |
| 2. |
Taking advantage of
every possible media opportunity, especially electronic media, to publicize
unsolved crimes, and |
| 3. |
Offering cash rewards
for information leading to an arrest and/or conviction.
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