By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – In an effort to reduce violent crime, authorities in the Metro East are urging the public to phone in anonymous tips.
Police say calls to Crimestoppers have helped solve more than a dozen cases elsewhere in the region. And they hope that success will spread to the east side.
Captain Craig Koehler is with the Illinois State Police. He says in East St. Louis the rate for solving homicides is low, in part because citizens are often afraid to share information.
This entire city is affected by crime on a daily basis, Koehler said. Our solvability rate in East St. Louis is at about 45%, compared to about 85% outside of the city of East St. Louis.
Police in the St. Louis area began using Crimestoppers in January, though the program has been around for 30 years.
The phone number is 866-371-TIPS.