Mississippi Crime Stoppers doubles rewards for information on burglaries

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – Over the next few months, residents will be receiving a higher number of packages than usual, which could lead to an increase in car and home burglaries.

However, local law enforcement officers have a plan.

“For several years now, the golden triangle crime stoppers has basically doubled the reward amount on our burglary charges. We’ve realized this time of year, with the holiday coming, you’ve got home burglaries, you’ve got car burglaries, you’ve got people even stealing packages off the porch,” said Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott.

Scott said the reward for information leading to an arrest varies based on the crime

“If it’s a home burglary, that may actually pay a little bit more than it would if somebody stole a package out of your mailbox for example. So, regardless of how it falls, we’re automatically going to double the amount of what would normally be paid,” said Scott.

Anyone who offers information to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous, and they could be rewarded up to $1,000– which would then be doubled.

“We can go above that thousand dollars if it’s some type of a violent crime such as a homicide. Crime Stoppers can be authorized to pay more. Typically on our burglaries, anywhere from a hundred to a thousand dollars is what it can go up to,” said Scott.

Sheriff Scott said they hope the extra incentive pushes people to pick up the phone and tell what they know.

“We think it helps increase that incentive, and again, we know that’s it’s going to spike. It always does here in the Golden Triangle. It’s that time of the year, and we always want to remind people, you’ve got to be careful. Make sure your cars are locked. Don’t leave valuables lying in plain sight in your vehicles,” said Scott.

Sheriff Eddie Scott was recently awarded the Mississippi Crime Stoppers 2019 Law Enforcement Coordinator Lifetime Service Award.