FAQ

Arlington County Crime Solvers is governed by a volunteer board of directors, comprised of community members and business leaders who are concerned about deterring crime in our community. Tips are provided to the Arlington County Police Department to investigate and process, make arrests and recoveries, and report the outcome of tips to the board. The board then makes determinations on the issuance of cash rewards to callers.

Citizens can report information about criminal incidents, wanted persons, illegal drugs, or other information that may be of use to law enforcement. Calls are not recorded or otherwise traceable and callers’ names are not asked. Tips reported to Crime Solvers are provided to the appropriate law enforcement agency for follow up investigation. Callers are provided with a unique identification number and asked to call back in 2-3 weeks to determine if they may be eligible for a reward. Callers who provide information leading to an arrest or the recovery of drugs or stolen property may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

When a person calls the tip line, they are not asked for their name and are provided a unique identification number. Calls are not recorded or traceable and Crime Solvers is a separate entity from the law enforcement agencies that investigate tips. When claiming a reward from Crime Solvers, a caller must provide the original identification number, which attributes them to the tip they have provided.

Callers are able to follow up on the status of information they provide using their unique identification number. If a reward is issued, the status of your tip will indicate that, and provide you with a secure way to obtain your reward money.

Arlington County Crime Solvers Inc., is a community endeavor funded by donations from individuals, businesses, and civic organizations. It does not receive any federal, state or local monies. The program is an incorporated, federally tax-exempt, non-profit, non-stock, charitable organization dedicated to the fight against crime.

Providing information through the Arlington County Crime Solvers tip line allows for anonymity, while still aiding in an investigation. Individuals are not required to be involved in court proceedings, but can still provide critical information in a case. The need to identify oneself should not hinder a person from providing police with information through the tip line.

The outcome of tips that lead to arrests in a case is reported to the Arlington County Crime Solvers Board of Directors by the Police Department liaison. The Board then uses a scale that weighs factors such as the type of crime solved, the number of arrests made, risk to the caller (if any), and the value of recovered property or seized narcotics when determining reward amounts.

You can download our sign online, print and display.

Police investigations involve significant amounts of time and resources. Tips provided to Arlington County Crime Solvers can aid police in identifying suspects or other information that can significantly advance an investigation, saving time and resources.

Arlington County Crime Solvers relies on the support of the community to continue to be successful. Members of the community can support the fight against crime by making a tax-deductible donation, or reporting tips anonymously to the 24-hour hotline. You can also show your support for Arlington County Crime Solvers by posting our sign at your home or business, which provides the public with information on how to report information through the hotline.

Donations may be sent to:

Arlington County Crime Solvers, Inc.
P.O. Box 3384
Arlington, VA 22203

Or donate via Paypal:

Yes! It started in 1976 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There are now more than 50 programs in Virginia and over 1,000 programs worldwide including England, Germany, Israel, Guam and Canada. Crime Stoppers International estimates more that 80,000 defendants arrested; almost $3 billion in recovered stolen property and illegal drugs; and $31 million in rewards paid out.