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

April 13, 2017

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

Recent weeks have shown an increase in burglaries to motor vehicles in several neighborhoods and subdivisions in the Springfield area and Crime Stoppers would like help in identifying the perpetrators. A vast majority of the thefts from vehicles occur during the overnight hours from unlocked vehicles. There have been, however, several thefts from vehicles in which items of value were in plain sight in the vehicles and persons used force, and even caused damage, to gain entry. In some instances police believe that individuals looked into the windows of parked vehicles only to return at a more opportune time with one or two other persons to break into the vehicles.

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week
 April 6, 2017

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

Crime Stoppers is looking for two subjects who have been involved in a series of incidents in which fraudulent checks were created and then cashed at several locations in Springfield and around Central Illinois. The total loss in these cases will be well over $10,000 when it’s all said and done, and Crime Stoppers wants your help to break up this crime ring. Take a look at the surveillance photos on this website (Cashfortips.us) and you can clearly see the primary suspects in this case. They’re both black females in their mid 30’s or 40’s who stand approximately 5’5” tall and have a medium to heavy build. Both have long black hair however one of them wears glasses and has two distinctive gold teeth with a gap between them.

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week
 March 30, 2017

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

Crime Stoppers is looking for information about a burglary that occurred at the 200 block of East Main in Rochester on March 13th between 10pm and just before midnight. The thieves entered through a rear door and were able to get away with several handguns and ammunition as well as a small amount of cash.  There was evidence from the crime scene and police have some leads to follow up on, however, more information is needed to solve this crime.

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

Crime Stoppers is looking for information about a late night break-in which occurred at Kohls Department Store on Veterans Parkway in Springfield on March 19th. In the incident, 3 persons smashed the glass in the entrance doors, quickly entered the business through the damaged doors, and grabbed armfuls of clothing which had been on display. The suspects were in and out of the store in a few quick minutes and removed approximately $5000 worth of Nike clothing items from the business. The suspects left the area in a white sedan with the registration plate covered which had been waiting for them in front of the store. Police have made several arrests in similar smash and grab incidents around the Midwest and hope someone has information about this recent attempt.

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week
 March 16, 2017

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

Crime Stoppers needs your tips to help police solve an arson and criminal damage incident which occurred at the nearly completed Villas at Vinegar Hill residential development on Allen Street in Springfield in early
February. Surveillance video indicated that 2 – 3 persons were involved in the incident in which the perpetrators extensively vandalized the buildings before using an accelerant to attempt to light the structure on fire. Although the sprinkler system extinguished the flames, damage was estimated at $40,000. Police are processing evidence from the crime scene however at this time, the names of the persons involved in this arson are not known.

Crime Stoppers News of the Week

March 9, 2017

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

As some of you may know, Crime Stoppers recently announced that the maximum reward for tips leading to the arrest of persons has been increased from the old maximum of $1000 to a new maximum reward of $2,500. This new maximum reward is permanent and is not tied to any specific case or category of crimes. If you have any information about a serious criminal matter such as homicide or kidnapping, or crimes with aggravating circumstances such as those with youthful or elderly victims, or even matters pertaining to gun violence, Crime Stoppers now has an option to pay you an amount well above the old $1000 limit. As always, we guarantee anonymity to our tipsters- there is no way we could give out any information about who you are because when we take a tip anonymously, we never get your name.

So if you have any information about criminal activity, call Crime Stoppers  at 788-8427 or leave a tip on this website (cashfortips.us). Remember we want your information, not your name- and now we’ll pay you up to $2500.

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week
February 23, 2017

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

In this week’s Crime of the Week, Crime Stoppers is hoping to help police solve an armed robbery which occurred at the Family Video store at 1614 S MacArthur Blvd in Springfield. On February 12th at approximately 10 o’ clock at night a black male wearing a white colored mask entered the business and pulled a black gun from the front pocket of the red hoodie he was wearing.  The suspect was described as being 5’7” to 5’9” inches tall and had an average build. After ordering the clerk to put cash into a bag, the suspect left the business on foot with the cash.

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week

 February 16, 2017

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

Crime Stoppers is looking for information about incidents which occurred on consecutive days at Glenwood High School in Chatham on
February 8^th and 9^th. The incidents, which consisted of written messages on walls in bathrooms, were of a threatening nature and referred to possible shooting and bombing incidents on school grounds.

Although security and administrative officials took immediate action to safeguard students and staff, and nobody was physically harmed by the threats, these incidents disrupted the school day and impacted the proper educational environment which our students richly deserve. Incidents such as these are felonies in the State of Illinois and can be prosecuted with possible fines or jail sentences.

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week

February 9, 2017

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

Just after the first of the year Crime Stoppers announced that we’re going to pay a $5000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person, or persons, who were responsible for the shooting death of 19 year old Alaysia Bennett. As you recall, Bennett was an occupant of a vehicle along with four other persons, including a three year old baby, when she was gunned down for no apparent reason.  Detectives with the Springfield Police Department are actively investigating this case and following up on leads as they develop. We want the public to know that the $5000 cash reward is still in play and it’ll be given to any person who anonymously comes forward with information that leads to the arrest of the person responsible for the shooting.

If you have any information about this homicide, your anonymous call to the Crime Stoppers tipline at 788-8427 could earn you $5000 cash. You can also anonymously leave a tip on our website, cashfortips.us; remember we want your information, not your name.

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week
 February 2, 2017

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

This week Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information about an incident which began as a residential burglary and ended up evolving into a robbery to a person. On January 30th at 6 o'clock in the evening, a homeowner in the 1000 block of North 12th returned to his home and discovered a door to his residence open. The victim went inside to investigate and found a thin black male in the residence who demanded the victim’s money. After getting the few dollars the victim had on his person, the suspect left on foot. It was later discovered that several items had already been removed from the residence.