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CALL 713.222.TIPS (8477)

cs years ago 1 Houston Crime Stoppers

History

In 1976, a peace officer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, developed a system under which tipsters in the community would be guaranteed anonymity by state law, and promised cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of major criminal offenders. In 1980, a group of concerned citizens brought that model to Houston and formed the Crime Stoppers of Houston. That original investment in the safety of the Houston community grew into the most productive and successful Crime Stoppers organization worldwide. 40 years later, CSOH is often recognized for being the largest and most successful Crime Stoppers in the nation.

Each Crime Stoppers operates independently, there is no umbrella organization or sharing of resources.

Crime Stoppers of Houston: A Legacy of Innovation and Impact
Founded in 1980 by the Exchange Club of Houston, Crime Stoppers of Houston has remained steadfast in its mission to prevent and solve serious crimes across the Greater Houston area. Through partnerships with citizens, media, and the criminal justice system, the program has grown into one of the most effective organizations of its kind globally. The organization’s first program was the Tip Line 713-222-TIPS (8477). This tool uniquely helped law enforcement solve cases quickly, efficiently and safely thanks to anonymous tips from the community. The reach of the Tip Line grew exponentially thanks to Dave Ward who promoted it heavily.

Key Programing Milestones and Innovations:

  • Safe School Program (1997): Introduced anonymous tip reporting for campus-based crimes, leading to the removal of over 280 weapons and the resolution of nearly 2,000 incidents.
  • Safe Community Program (2013): Created to empower and educate the community at large on critical safety issues affecting their everyday lives with a big focus on prevention.
  • The Dave Ward Crime Stoppers of Houston Building (2015): Under Executive Director Rania Mankarious’ leadership, the organization raised funds to establish the nation’s first-ever public safety crime prevention block.
  • Opening of The Dave Ward Crime Stoppers of Houston Building (Jan 2017): With support from the community, the organization officially opened the doors to the first-ever Crime Stoppers Headquarters anywhere in the world. The building serves as a collaborative location for safety-minded partners to work on finding solutions to our city’s most crucial safety issues.
  • Safe School Program Expands to become the Safe School Institute (2018): The Safe School Institute grew in all areas of student and school engagement, educating over 1.7 million students and counting.
  • Victim Services and Advocacy Program (2018): A groundbreaking program supporting victims through every stage of their journey. Nationally recognized for producing Victim Impact Statements for parole hearings, ensuring victims’ voices are heard.
  • Safe School Institute Expands – Statewide (May 2018): Following the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, Crime Stoppers of Houston became a key partner in Governor Greg Abbott’s Campus Safety Program, training 80 professionals statewide in its first year.
  • The Balanced Voice Podcast (2020): A platform for balanced, solution-driven discussions on pressing societal issues, featuring guests such as Matthew McConaughey, Tamron Hall, and Nancy Grace, reaching nearly 4 million listeners.
  • Safe Community Program Expands to become the Safe Community Institute (Jan 2022): The Safe Community Institute provides one centralized location for all crime-related statistical data, resources, prevention education, public safety awareness content, and victim services. The Institute has impacted over 777,000 individuals and counting.
  • The Glenda Gordy Research Center (Sept 2022): A cutting-edge resource tracking crime trends and data to inform and empower the Greater Houston Area community.

In 2024, Rania Mankarious spearheaded the “Million for Million” initiative, announced during a record-breaking fundraising gala. This unique goal will leverage partnerships and the tools of Crime Stoppers of Houston to reach “One Million Children for Safety in One Year”.

To date, she and her team have raised over $37 million for Crime Stoppers of Houston.

With over four decades of groundbreaking programs and unwavering dedication, Crime Stoppers of Houston has earned countless awards and remains a global leader in crime prevention and public safety.