Central VA Crime Stoppers Helping Cops Clear Cases - WSET.com - ABC13

Reporter: Rachel Schaerr | Videographer: Jemon Haskins

Lynchburg, VA - It's an organization that's making our community safer one call at a time. Right now, the Central Virginia Crime Stoppers needs your help to keep the rewards coming.

There are several fundraisers over the next few weeks. On Friday, Camp CHILD is holding a car wash from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Lynchburg Life Saving Crew on Memorial Avenue. You can also buy tickets to a spaghetti dinner on August 23.

The organization paid out a dozen rewards last year and organizers say it helped law enforcement solve many more cases than that.

About $800 worth of DVDs went missing from the Target on Wards Road. Weeks, months, and two years went by. Finally, the suspects' pictures were plastered on crime of the week.

"We received a tip that identified both females. And the officer was able to follow up on that case and make an arrest," said Detective Glenn Anderson with the Lynchburg Police Department.

Last year, more than 500 tips poured in to Central Virginia Crime Stoppers' tip line.

The president estimates it helps solve 100 cases every year.

"We know we're solving crimes that probably wouldn't get solved if somebody wasn't looking to get that reward from the tip money," explained Joyce Sachs.

The nonprofit is just another tool for 12 different jurisdictions in the heart of the Commonwealth.

Instead of using their names, callers are assigned a tip number that they can then use to collect their reward.

"It's important that people know that it's anonymous and that we don't release any information," said Anderson.

All the reward money is raised through fundraisers, business donors and people like you.

Joyce Sachs sees it as another way to make her community safer.

"I raised my daughter here because it is a safe and good community and if everyone pitches in and helps it makes it a whole lot easier," she said.