Have you noticed that the murder rate is significantly lower this year as compared to other years? What caused this drastic drop? YOU did. That’s right, YOU. It was you speaking up with your 1,859 calls to Crime Stoppers USVI that had a direct impact on lowering crime rates.

One criminal might commit many crimes over his or her lifetime. Putting one criminal in prison not only punishes him or her for the crime already committed, it also lessens the chance of committing more while locked up; this is what we are seeing right now.

Your anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers, which we pass on to local or federal law enforcement, have helped put a number of serious criminals behind bars in the last year. YOU have directly saved lives. YOU have reduced violent crimes. YOU have made our islands a safer place to live. The law abiding community says thank you.

In the past it has been risky to speak up. It is hard to know who to trust, and that’s why Crime Stoppers was started here in the VI. Crime Stoppers utilizes technology that totally protects your identity.

In the three decades since this organization was started around the world, there are no known instances where an anonymous citizen’s identity has ever been revealed due to a problem with the technology. For more information on how it works, please visit the Crime Stoppers website.

You and Crime Stoppers, working together, have made a serious, positive impact on crime. Crime Stoppers thanks you for your courage and commitment to our community! Please continue to work for the good of all by telling us what you know about any crimes at www.CrimeStoppersUSVI.org or by calling 1-800-222- 8477. You can also text “USVI” plus your message to 274637.

If you know something, say something as law enforcement needs to know what you know. Even the smallest bit of information may be just what is needed. You can also help by contributing to the Crime Stoppers reward fund. For details please go to our website at www.CrimeStoppersUSVI.org and click on “Support Us.”