This week Crime Stoppers would like to make you aware the Springfield Police Department has noticed an increase in Facebook Market Place scams.  To avoid being a victim, research the seller’s profile and be wary of fake accounts with few pictures, friends and posts.  Look to see if they have recently joined Facebook or if they have been on the platform for a while.  While conducting online transactions, consider using a designated E-Commerce Exchange Zone like the lobby of the Springfield Police Department, for safety.

 If you have any information about a crime call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-788-8427, submit a tip on this website, Cashfortips.US or use the P3 app.  If your tip results in an arrest you could receive a cash reward up to $2,500.  Remember Crime Stoppers only wants your information, not your name.

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week
 June 22, 2017

Officer Mike Badger, Crime Stoppers Coordinator for Sangamon and Menard counties.

Crime Stoppers wants to alert the public that in transactions originated on social media sites such as Facebook, Let Go, and Craig’s list, sellers have received look alike money - or in some cases- Counterfeit money - in exchange for their goods. Police have also taken reports in which sellers were robbed when meeting people who indicated they wanted to purchase items in these internet based person- to-person sales. Crime Stoppers urges you to utilize safe e-commerce zones, such as the one in the lobby of the Springfield Police station. 

You should also to examine each bill received prior to exchanging goods to avoid being victimized. Some invalid currency used in these transactions appears to be valid at first glance however if you look at it closely there are Chineese symbols on the bills or the bills are indicated to be Motion Picture currency. Although the Chineese currency and Motion Picture currency appears to be valid U.S.Currency, if you look closely at it you can see that it clearly indicates on the money that it is not legal tender. If you have any questions about the validity of currency you receive, hold it up to the light and check for a watermark in the paper of the currency that is not printed on the exterior of the bill.
 

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week

June 15, 2017

Officer Mike Badger, Crime Stoppers Coordinator for Sangamon and Menard counties.

Crime Stoppers wants to help police identify two suspects who- after being involved in a shoplifting incident at White Oaks Mall on May 25th- attacked and beat two people who witnessed the thefts. After punching and kicking the witnesses, one of the suspects pulled out a canister of pepper spray and sprayed the victims- and a five month old baby who was in a stroller nearby.  Police have surveillance video of the suspects and I’ve posted images on this website in hopes that somebody can help identify the suspects. In addition to being wanted for investigation of Retail Theft, these two suspects face charges of Aggravated Battery, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and perhaps Endangering the Life of a Child.

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week
June 8, 2017
Officer Mike Badger, Crime Stoppers Coordinator for Sangamon and Menard counties

In the Crime of the Week of this week I’d like to focus on an armed robbery which took place at the Circle K service station on Clearlake Avenue in Springfield. Shortly after 9 pm on June 3, a black male in his late 40’s or early 50’s -who implied he had a weapon- robbed the business and left on foot with the contents of the cash drawer. The suspect stood approximately 5'9" tall and had an average build. He was wearing mostly black clothing and had a white and black baseball cap on and older white tennis shoes with red laces.The Springfield Police Department has surveillance video from the robbery and Crime Stoppers has posted images from the surveillance on our website Cashfortips.us. If you can identify this subject or provide any information which leads to his arrest, Crime Stoppers will pay you a cash reward of up to $2500.

 
Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week
June 1, 2017
 
Officer Mike Badger, Crime Stoppers Coordinator for Sangamon and Menard counties.
 
The Springfield community again faces a senseless shooting. This time a 28 year old pregnant female was shot as she stood outside a home at the 1900 block of South 1st Street on Tuesday May 30th shortly after 8 in the evening. Sheena Malone tragically succumbed to the fatal gunshot wound shortly after she was shot, however, doctors were able to perform an emergency C-section and deliver the victims unborn child at 23 weeks into the pregnancy. A dark skinned black male with low cut hair in a maroon four door vehicle was responsible for the shooting. Police believe it may have been related to other similar incidents but they do not believe Sheena was an intended target.
 

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week
May 25, 2017

Officer Mike Badger, Crime Stoppers Coordinator for Sangamon and Menard counties.

Springfield Police have been actively investigating, and have solved, several of the recent incidents in which shots have been fired in the area and we are pleased with the success of their vigilance. There are still a few unsolved shots fired cases out there and we encourage your tips which will lead to further arrests. With that said, however, there remains an unsolved armed robbery which took place at the Dollar General store on Wabash Avenue on April 18th . A masked gunman, possibly a 6 foot tall light skinned black male, made off with the contents of a cash drawer in the robbery. The investigation has revealed that there were other persons involved in this incident and police are looking for names of any persons involved.

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week
 May 18, 2017

Officer Mike Badger, Crime Stoppers Coordinator for Sangamon and Menard counties.

A shooting occurred in Springfield recently and police are looking for tips in this case in hopes of curbing some of the gun violence that is all too common in the world we live in today. This recent incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, May 13th , when a small group of juveniles were playing basketball at a neighborhood home when an occupant of a black SUV, possibly a Jeep, opened fire with a handgun and 11 rounds directed at the youths. A 17 year old, who police believe had no ties to criminal activity, was struck 3 times by the gunshots and was hospitalized in Springfield. Police do not believe that the victim was targeted and believe he may have been mistaken for someone else - or may have been another person who was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week     May 11, 2017

Officer Mike Badger, Crime Stoppers Coordinator for Sangamon and Menard counties.

The Sangamon County Sherriff’s Office is investigating a shooting incident at the conclusion of a large party at the Illinois Building on the State Fairgrounds on April 16th. Multiple shooters were actively exchanging gunfire when police from numerous agencies were dispatched to the active shooting.  Investigators have determined that the incident -which left four persons with non life threatening stab wounds – began when rival gang members exchanged gunfire.  Surprisingly, no injuries resulted from the gunfire which occurred inside and outside of the crowded building.

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week

                                        May 4, 2017

Officer Mike Badger, Crime Stoppers Coordinator for Sangamon and Menard counties.

Over the 40 year history of Crime Stoppers we’ve found several things to be consistent in nearly all criminal situations. One of those common threads of criminal activity is the fact that in nearly every case, somebody else - besides the perpetrator - knows who committed nearly every criminal act. Right now Crime Stoppers is looking for information about an armed robbery to the ‘Just Left Inn’ on South 15^th Street in Springfield on May 1^st . There’s at least one other person who knows who committed the armed robbery to the bar and patrons. With your help we can make an arrest in this case and we’re likely to pay a cash reward that’s more than the robber got in the hold-up. It’s certainly something to think about if you’re the one who has information about this, or any other criminal matter.

Remember, when you anonymously call Crime Stoppers, nobody ever knows who you are. If you have tips in this, or any other case, call Crime Stoppers at 788-8427 or leave your tip on our website cashfortips.us.

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week
 April 27, 2017

Officer Mike Badger, Crime Stoppers Coordinator for Sangamon and Menard counties.

In the early morning hours of April 24th , the Springfield Fire Department was dispatched to a home in Twin Lakes Subdivision where a fire was reported at the rear of a residence. The fire was extinguished after a short period of time; however, minutes later another nearby home was discovered to be actively burning. There are strong indications that these two fires were not random acts, they were targeted acts which have resulted in an arson investigation by the Springfield Fire Department and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Springfield Police Department.

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week

 April 20, 2017

Officer Mike Badger, Crime Stoppers Coordinator for Sangamon and Menard counties.

In the early morning hours of April 16^th the Walgreens Drug Store on MacArthur Blvd in Springfield was robbed by a black male subject who stood approximately six feet tall and weighed 180 to 190 pounds. The perpetrator, with a red mask partially covering his face, entered the business with a black handgun drawn.  At the checkout area, he ordered the clerk, at gunpoint, to empty the contents of the cash drawer into a white plastic bag he brought in. He left the area, with cash, shortly thereafter running southbound. There were no injuries in the incident.