Solving crime does not pay: New figures show no major reward payouts in a decade

NO one has been paid for helping to solve a South Australian homicide case in a decade — despite rewards of up to $1 million and several unsolved cases being cracked by calls to Crime Stoppers.

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THE promise of riches for dobbing in murderers has not resulted in a single reward payout in South Australia for 10 years, new documents show.

Instead, SA Police and Crime Stoppers say a desire to do the right thing appears to be the prime motivation for people to come forward with information leading to a raft of arrests in other crimes.

Hefty rewards of up to $1 million are on offer for dozens of serious unsolved crimes.

However a new freedom of information document shows there has been no payout rewards in a decade.

Crime Stoppers, however are distributing about $10,000 a year for less serious crimes.

State government-funded rewards fall under three categories:

UNSOLVED major crimes — $200,000.

MAJOR crime relating to organised crime or outlaw motorcycle gang crime, including where there is a threat to the public — $500,000.

CRIMES against the state and for the murder of children — $1 million.

Detective Superintendent Des Bray, the officer in charge of the SA Police Major Crime Investigation Branch, said police have not had any application for a reward in recent years.

“The majority of people seem motivated to assist for other reasons,” Det Supt Bray said.

“Their reasons for coming forward aren’t always clear, but can result from a change of heart, circumstance or other developments.”

Crime Stoppers runs awareness campaigns highlighting rewards for serious crimes that the State Government is responsible for paying out.

However, the not-for-profit organisation offers rewards of up to $2000 depending on the type of crime, its severity, and the number of offenders apprehended.

Crime Stoppers chair Sharon Hanlon said the organisation distributes about $10,000 a year for information.

“Since the program first began in South Australia, more than $219,500 in rewards have been paid to members of the community, more than 31,000 crimes solved, 20,623 persons apprehended and about $9 million worth of property recovered,” Ms Hanlon said.

“While a reward in exchange for information can serve as an incentive, the vast majority of people who contact Crime Stoppers are motivated purely by the desire to play a role in helping to create a safer community and help police catch criminals.”

Crime Stoppers has passed on more than 170,000 tip-offs to police since it was established in 1996, helping solve more than 30,000 crimes.

Two calls among thousands to Crime Stoppers in 2015 helped police identify the body in a suitcase at Wynarka in 2015.

Two-year-old Khandalyce Kiara Pearce went missing along with her mother in early 2009, with the identification of the girl’s body solving a mystery which had plagued police for years.

As well, information provided to the confidential hotline helped solve the 2001 murder of Carolyn Matthews and the 2012 cold case killing of Jayson Doelz, whose three attackers were found guilty in December, 2017.