An anonymous tip means your name is not known or made public. When a tipster calls the Crime Stoppers phone line, they are first given a code number and they are prompted not to disclose their identity at any time.
The tipster then uses that same code number for all subsequent communication with Crime Stoppers. The program does not subscribe to call display anywhere in North America and the identity of the caller, beyond gender, is never known.
you will not be required to reveal your name
you will not have to make a police statement
you will not appear or testify in court
your call will not be recorded
your call or online form will not be traced
In the Crime Stoppers file that is created, the caller is referred to as "the tipster" and not "he or she" which would then disclose the gender of the tipster to the police investigator. Should the caller share information with the call taker that would compromise identity in any way, that information is removed from the file that goes to the police investigator. Information such as "I live close enough to see what's going on" or "the suspect uses my phone to call their drug clients" is all removed by re-writing the summary of information. Through this method of screening and sanitizing the tip information, the caller can never, even accidentally, be recognized or identified by the nature of content of the tip information. The tipster remains, in terms of identity, only a number and the tip remains anonymous.
All information is computerized, securely protected by passwords, and secured in a locked office accessible only to Crime Stoppers personnel.
If the identity of one of our callers was made known it would destroy trust in Crime Stoppers and no one would contact us. This is another reason why it is so important to us that we can guarantee your anonymity.