Macon Regional Crimestoppers breaks fundraising record in 15th year

Macon Regional Crimestoppers raised $129,850 over the past year to pay tipsters, the most money it has ever raised in a single year, the nonprofit announced Monday.

About 300 Middle Georgia law enforcement officers gathered at the Wilson Convention Center for the annual Crimestoppers luncheon. Macon Regional Crimestoppers, created in November 2000, offers cash rewards up to $1,000 to anonymous tipsters with information that leads to arrests of those responsible for committing crimes in Bibb, Jones, Peach, Houston, Twiggs, Baldwin, Crawford or Monroe counties.

"This is the most money we've ever raised," said Warren Selby Jr., chairman of the organization's board of directors. "I think as the program continues to age, people realize a couple of things. One is their anonymity is going to be protected. No. 2, their information really does make a difference. There's no fear of reprisal. They give us the information, we pass it on, it leads to an arrest, they receive reward money."

This year, 271 arrests have been made, and tipsters have been paid $49,870, according to the nonprofit's statistics through October.

Since 2000, Crimestoppers has been responsible for 4,696 arrests; 8,708 warrants served; $658,644 worth of recovered stolen property and $690,724 in tipster rewards.

Macon Regional Crimestoppers is a partnership involving the media, the community and state, local and federal law enforcement, Warren said.

In a short video presented to attendees, Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese said Crimestoppers has proven itself to be worthy.

"Earlier this year, we had a serial rapist in Peach County, which is very unusual for our little rural community," Deese said. "It went on for several months. ... (Crimestoppers) was very instrumental in helping us catch our rapist and getting him off the streets."

Anyone with information about a crime in Middle Georgia that can help lead to an arrest is encouraged to call the Macon Regional Crimestoppers tip line at 478-742-2330.

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published November 16, 2015 at 6:28 PM with the headline "Macon Regional Crimestoppers breaks fundraising record in 15th year ."