Willow Glen Resident

News

Crime Stoppers celebrates 25 years of making local communities safer

By Lisa Sibley

It's the 21st-century version of a wanted poster.

Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers is a collaborative effort among local media, police departments throughout the valley and the organization's board of directors to make local communities safer places to live.

The nonprofit group's members celebrated a milestone--25 years--and thanked their many supporters on Oct 4 at the Silicon Valley Capital Club.

The organization is volunteer-run, with a resident board and police representatives.

Strong Neighborhoods Initiative community coordinator Rosamaria Hernandez, who has lived in Willow Glen since 1972 and works in West San Jose, was at the event. She says she can't help but spread the word about Crime Stoppers on her street through the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association. Her Parkwood Way street has an organized neighborhood watch. The group celebrates National Night Out, hosts a Fourth of July block party and spring get-together. The neighbors also create a Christmas tree lane on their street and even carol together. Most importantly, the residents look out for each other and are familiar with how to call the Crime Stopper hotline.

Hernandez said there once was an attempted burglary at her home. The alarm was triggered, and the police responded. Her next-door neighbor called her immediately when she noticed the patrol vehicles.

Hernandez said community members should always call 911 for a crime in progress, but a witness who wants to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers.

Ben Angileri, a retired businessman who is a board member and past Crime Stopper president, said that once a week an unsolved police case is presented to the public through television, radio and newspaper announcements, as well as the Crime Stoppers website. Residents are urged to call 408.947.STOP if they have information about the case or any other serious crime.

"If the tip results in an arrest, the tipster is entitled to a reward," Angileri said, adding that rewards up to $1,000 are offered for information leading to an arrest. The tipsters remains anonymous.

"Nobody ever knows who they are," Angileri said. "Fear of retaliation is nil."

The program began in September 1976 in Albuquerque, N. M. Since then it has spread to more than 1,000 cities and 13 countries worldwide. A group of concerned citizens formed San Jose Crime Stoppers in September 1982, which has since become Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers. According to board member Ken Kelly, San Jose was the second city in the world to adopt the program.

Board treasurer Erin Locke has been involved with the organization for the past five years.

"It's a great way for citizens to call in anonymous tips without worrying about the repercussions. They can keep their community safe," she said.

She said the program has been used to turn in sex offenders and bust graffiti vandals. The program has also partnered with taxicab companies, placing Crime Stopper posters in the vehicles. If drivers or passengers see a crime, they can call and report it.

"It makes it easier to be a good citizen," said Crime Stopper member Jim Caputo.

Chief deputy district attorney Karyn Sinunu, who is running for district attorney, said, "Their services have brought us more customers and more importantly made the community safer.

"The police can't do everything," she added. "Crime Stoppers is the link between the police and the community. When it started, it was an unusual idea. I don't think it had a lot of credibility. The proof was in the action."

Jim Cogan, chief of staff for District 1 Councilwoman Linda LeZotte, said the program has helped to bust an auto insurance ring and bring down an Almaden Valley marijuana farm. Cogan is also the president of Crime Stoppers. It's been used to solve arson and identity theft cases as well as a cold case of child molestation. More recently, the program has been expanded to help stop crimes on construction sites and school campuses.

"It's so valuable for the community to have an outlet for tips," LeZotte said.

LeZotte said the city funds an office space and the San Jose Police Department provides a liaison, officer Jason Pierce, who oversees the program. Only police officers can receive the tips.

Since its inception, the program has helped to solve 676 cases, and 809 suspects have been arrested, according to the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers website.

Pierce receives approximately 175 calls a month, and about 25 percent of those are valid tips. Pierce investigates the calls and sends out officers when necessary. Out of about 30 calls, Pierce said half of them result in arrest, but half of the callers just want the reward. The upside of the Crime Stoppers program, Pierce said, is that "most people don't want the money. They want the problem to go away."

San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis said, "From our perspective, it's become an invaluable program. Dozens of tips have led us to solve cases we wouldn't have been able to solve otherwise."

For more information, visit www. crimestoppers.sjsv.com.