Orange County crime hotline gets an upgrade

Orange County recently gave a face lift to its Crime Solvers program, allowing all callers to remain anonymous and handing out cash for tips leading to arrests.

Orange has had a Crime Solvers program since the early 1990s, but the number of callers offering up tips had declined in recent years. The nonprofit program decided to recreate itself this year by doing more to publicize its name and make all calls 100 percent anonymous.

Shannon Abbs, president of Orange County Crime Solvers, said that the revamped program was kicked off a couple of months ago.

“People need to know that we just really need their help,” she said. “They will not take your name. You can repeat it 50 times, and they will never write it down.”

A point system determines the amount of money callers receive if their tips lead to an arrest. The formula rewards more money for arrests related to heinous crimes and multiple crimes. Rewards range from $25 to $1,000.

Rewards come from private donations, which are tax-deductible.

County officials estimate that they’ve been getting tips from about a dozen new callers per month since Crime Solvers was overhauled. As a result, one crime suspect turned himself in, and a woman wanted for failing to appear in court was tracked down by police after a caller told Crime Solvers where she was.

Orange County Sheriff Mark Amos said that the tip line in years past “never has generated a whole lot of calls or interest and I think the main reason for that is it wasn’t made known that well.”

Abbs said that she also attributes the increase in tips to the fact that callers now remain anonymous. She said, however, that only legitimate callers would be rewarded.

“If you call and say your girlfriend is smoking dope and they get there and she’s a nun, that’s not an arrest, that’s not a payout,” she said. “But if they get there and come to a crack house, you get some money.”

To give a tip about Orange County crimes or crime suspects who are wanted, call (540) 672-7200.

To donate to Crime Solvers, make checks payable to Orange County Crime Solvers, P.O. Box 885, Orange, VA 22960.