Crime Stoppers authorizes rewards for tips that lead to 20 arrests

Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers has approved more than $7,500 in rewards for anonymous tips that have led to numerous recent arrests.

There were 20 separate rewards approved, a total of $7,525, with individual amounts ranging from $200 for relatively minor crimes to $1,000. The $1,000 reward was authorized for a tip that resulted in the arrest of a man and woman in connection with a case of arson, burglaries, child endangerment and drugs.

Some of the rewards were given for successful tips that were originally phoned in several months ago. A new Crime Stoppers coordinator, who is also a deputy in the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office, has done diligent work to track down older tips that had been previously overlooked, Crime Stoppers officials said.

"Our new coordinator is doing great work," said Kathy Smith, president of the Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers. "She has brought us completely up to date and is on top of current tips, putting us in the best position we have been in for a long time.

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