What is Lancaster County Crime Stoppers?
It is a volunteer organization of local citizens and business people dedicated to the reduction of crime, to the prompt solution of crimes, and to rewarding persons who provide information that leads to the arrest of criminals.  Boiled down into simpler terms, Crime Stoppers is a group of concerned people who gather funds to reward individuals who provide information anonymously to our police agencies so that they can solve unsolved crimes.

What Type of Organization is Lancaster City-County Crime Stoppers?
Crime Stoppers is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation which was founded in 1987 through the efforts of the Kiwanis Club of Lancaster, Pennsylvania State Police, Lancaster City Police and the Lancaster County Chiefs of Police Association, as well as citizens of the State.  The By-Laws for the organization were adopted in May 1987. Crime Stoppers is currently partnered with Lancaster Newspapers.

How Does Crime Stoppers Work?
Crime Stoppers utilizes a multimedia approach, for solving crime, designed to gather evidence and information on unsolved crimes through the cooperation of all the local media.  The Crime Stoppers Police Liaison identifies cases and wanted persons and distributes the information as supplied by the investigating agency, to our social media and informational outlets. Information leading to an arrest and/ or conviction in these cases could result in a reward of up to $1,000 to the individual who supplied the information needed to solve the crime.   In order to be eligible for a reward, tipster must provide a method for the Crime Stoppers Police Liaison to contact them.   They do not have to provide their names.   

Why is Crime Stoppers Different?
Crime Stoppers is different from all other programs designed to gather criminal information because in this program the informant can remain completely anonymous and still receive the reward money.  This is accomplished by the use of the Crime Stoppers web tip or through the assistance of the involved investigators.  In order to be eligible for a reward, tipster must provide a method for the Crime Stoppers Police Liaison to contact them.   They do not have to provide their names.   

Telephone Hotline
For many years, Crime Stoppers maintained a tip line which citizens could use to call in tips to the Crime Stoppers Hotline.  Unfortunately, the hotline is no longer in use and persons with information about cases or wanted persons should call their local police agencies or they may also call 911 in the case of an emergency.    Tipsters may also contact us using the web tip feature here on our site.

How is the Program Administered?
Crime Stoppers is administered by a civilian Board of Directors who have complete control of the operations of the organization.  The Board, with advice from all Lancaster City-County law enforcement agencies and primarily the Crime Stoppers Police Liaison, will determine the amount of the reward and which informant(s) merit reward money.  (In some cases more than one informant can contribute to solving a crime.)

How is the Program Funded?
Contributions are being solicited from service organizations, social clubs, businessmen and women, corporations, and interested residents.  Crime Stoppers is a non-profit, tax exempt organization under Section 501(C)(3) of the IRS Code, so all contributions will be tax exempt.  

Mail contributions to :  
Lancaster City-County Crime Stoppers P.O. Box 7475
Lancaster PA,  17604

Frequently Asked Questions About Tipping

Is it 100% anonymous?
Yes, none of the information exchanged over the web tip system is logged so there is no way to track the originator of a web tip.   Tipsters may also call provide information about a case or wanted person to their local police agency and do not have to provide their names.   However, in order for Crime Stoppers to contact the tipster to receive a reward (if eligible), the Police Liaison must have a way to contact the tipster. 

What if the tip is related to an emergency or a situation where we need to find out who they are?
If it’s clearly an emergency situation, direct them to call 911 immediately.    Persons providing information may give their names or may ask to remain 100% anonymous if they choose not to provide any identifying information, such as their name or address.

Can we issue a Subpoena to identify the tipster’s information?
Since the tip originators information is not logged in the web tip system, there is no way to find that information out.   However, tipsters may provide their information if they so choose.

Can we contact the tipster again in the future?
Persons providing tips through the web tip system on this site can only be contacted if they provide their name, phone number, e-mail address or other information that may help investigators communicate with them.   For the Police Liaison to contact the tipster about a reward (if eligible), the tipster must provide a way to contact them, but do not have to give their name.