In 1976, a young university student was murdered during a gas station robbery in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Despite witnesses and evidence, the case went cold. Detective Greg MacAleese refused to let it stay that way.
MacAleese developed a bold new idea: combine the power of anonymity with a cash reward to encourage community members to come forward without fear of retaliation. He partnered with local media to air a dramatic reenactment of the crime — and within 72 hours, the case was solved.
That breakthrough became the foundation of the Crime Stoppers model. As retired judge Richard Carter later said, "the creation of Crime Stoppers ranks with some of the most important innovations in crime fighting."
Today, Crime Stoppers programs operate across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and the South and Western Pacific. Each program — including Cabarrus Area Crime Stoppers — is an independent, locally governed 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Felony cases solved through tips carry an approximate 95% conviction rate.
The core promise has never changed: we want your information, not your name.
