Rewards offered on crime tip lines have created a helping hand to DeKalb area law enforcement.

As of 2009, police tip lines have helped the DeKalb County Sheriffs Department make 11 arrests, solve nine cases and help recover $900 in stolen property and illegal narcotics.

“The department has rewarded $1,650 to individuals this year that have assisted in cases,” said Sgt. John Sietsema of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department. “This number has not yet been dramatically different from last year and has stayed the same.”

These tip lines are designed for citizens to call in any evidence of a crime they may have in order to help solve cases in the DeKalb County area. This process is based on total confidentiality for the safety and reassurance of the citizen.

“When people call our hot line they are given a code and there are not even caller IDs on the phones so the police department has no idea who is calling,” said Sgt. Alan Smith, public information officer for the NIU Police Department.

These tip lines are available at any time through DeKalb Police Departments. An organization that specializes in reporting information on illegal activity is Crime Stoppers.

Crime Stoppers in a non-profit organization whose main goal is to provide crime solving assistance to law enforcement. If a caller’s information assists the police in the arrest and filing of criminal charges the caller receives a cash reward. All caller’s name and information are anonymous.

Rewards are an effort to assist DeKalb County officials in solving community crimes such as missing person, robberies, assaults and other illegal activity.

“If you know something that can affect the community, let us know,” Smith said. “People always say that they don’t want to be a snitch. What they don’t realize is that the people committing the crimes don’t care about the community.”