---

The Cass County Sheriff Department is beginning another year of partnership with Crime Stoppers of Minnesota to increase the ways that citizens can anonymously pass on information to help solve crimes.

Through this partnership, the Cass County Sheriff Department continues to support the use of awareness and systems available through Crime Stoppers to collect information about crimes. Citizens who may be reluctant to step forward with information about a crime or fugitive directly with the Police but who still want to "do the right thing" can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously and the information will then be shared with the Cass County Sheriff Department or which ever agency the tip information leads to.

[[In-content Ad]]In their past fiscal year Crime Stoppers of Minnesota reported an increase of tip volume by more than three times the volume of the previous year. The tips collected by Crime Stoppers were shared with 103 different Law Enforcement agencies across Minnesota reflecting the statewide capability they maintain for attracting crime information.

Persons giving tips to Crime Stoppers stay anonymous and may be eligible to collect up to $1,000 in reward. With these additional methods for citizens to turn in tips, the Cass County Sheriff Department may save thousands of dollars of investigators' time, speed the solving of cases and help bring comfort to the victims of a crime.

People with knowledge about a crime or a fugitive can submit information to Crime Stoppers by calling (1-800-222-TIPS [8477]), going online at www.crimestoppersmn.org, or by texting on a cell phone TIP674, plus a message SEND to CRIMES [274637]. Crime Stoppers' procedures accept tips in any language by the phone; in English, Spanish, French or Somali on the Internet; and keep the identity of the tipster anonymous. If the tip leads to an arrest or charging the tipster may qualify to receive a reward of up to $1,000 and still remain anonymous.

Crime Stoppers of Minnesota is a non-profit organization operating separate and independent of government and law enforcement that is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Donations to Crime Stoppers of Minnesota are tax deductible and can be made at the website. Crime Stoppers of Minnesota has been in operation since 1979 and today is among 1200 Crime Stoppers programs around the world helping to solve crime.

---