CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – There’s an easier way to report crimes in Champaign County. Following nearly every crime, authorities encourage witnesses to come forward with information, but a lot of people are concerned about retaliation, and some of them aren’t sure how to report anonymous tips. WCIA created a solution for that with a new […]

RANTOUL, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help in solving a shooting that happened in Rantoul earlier this month. Police were dispatched to the 600 block of Autumn Fields Lane in the Pheasant Ridge Subdivision at 8:22 p.m. on May 14 after multiple people heard shots in the area. […]

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers needs your help solving a case. In a news release, officials said officers were called in reference to a fight that happened around 2:15 a.m. April 30 at Green Street Café in Champaign. Two women were having an argument when it turned into a physical fight. […]

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — This week, Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking assistance from the public regarding a theft and credit card fraud that happened on April 24. According to Champaign Police, at around 11 a.m. on April 24, a theft occurred at Home Goods, located at 718 Town Center Boulevard in Champaign. Officers […]

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers is looking for an individual who embodies the crime-fighting spirit of former board member and WCIA anchor Dave Benton. That Champaign County resident would receive the “Dave Benton Crime Fighter Award.” In a news release, Crime Stoppers officials said, “The intent is to recognize an individual […]

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers is offering a $500 scholarship to a graduating high school senior from Champaign County who is planning a career in Criminal Justice. Applications must be completed and received by May 20, 2022 by Champaign County Crime Stoppers, P.O. Box 814, Champaign IL 61824, or scanned and emailed to 373tips@gmail.com.  Applicants must include the completed […]

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — This week, Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking assistance from the public regarding an attempted robbery that happened on April 20. At around 11:35 p.m., police officers were dispatched to the B-Spirits Gas Station on West Main Street in response to a report of an attempted robbery. When officers arrived at […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — This week, Champaign County Crime Stoppers is looking for more information related to reckless discharge of a firearm on March 22. At around 7:30 p.m., Champaign Police were dispatched to the Blackhawk Convenience Store on West Springfield Avenue in response to a report of shots fired. When officers arrived at the […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking assistance from the public regarding a retail theft that happened on December 4, 2021. According to Champaign Police, at around 4:40 p.m., three subjects entered Menards at 620 West Town Center Boulevard, selected fourteen rolls of electrical wire and left the store without paying. The […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help in getting more information about a recent retail theft. According to Champaign Police, on Jan. 18, two subjects entered Kohl’s at 109 Convenience Center Road at around 4:25 p.m. and left the store separately with unpaid merchandise, totaling $3,500 to $5,000. […]

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking the public’s assistance regarding recent burglaries. According to police, an unknown suspect entered Winston’s Old Bank on David Street in Sidney at around 3:40 a.m. on Feb. 6. They said the suspect broke into the gaming/gambling machines and stole the cash from within the […]

UPDATE (11:25AM 1/25/22) — Champaign Police said they have identified the offender. Officers included description of race in their original news release. When we asked law enforcement if this could be similar to other incidents we’ve seen nationwide that seem to target Asian-Americans, officers said they would not comment on that because this is an […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking assistance from the public regarding a burglary. According to police, on Jan. 6, two suspects broke into an ATM at CIBM Bank located at 2913 West Kirby Avenue at around 3:30 a.m.. Police said the offenders were driving a stolen maroon/silver Ford F350 pickup truck […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking support from the public to collect more information about an armed robbery that happened on December 10. According to officers, at around 7:50 p.m., an unknown offender entered the Family Dollar on North Market Street and brandished a firearm. It was reported that the offender […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking assistance from the public regarding a shooting that happened near Stix Arcade bar on Dec. 12. According to police, a fight occurred outside Stix Arcade bar at around 12:40 a.m. They said a man who wore a black coat with a fur-lined hood fired four […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking assistance from the public regarding a theft. According to police, two men entered the Circle K located at 1713 West John Street on Nov. 25 at around 4:26 p.m.. It is reported that one of them selected merchandise and proceeded to the checkout counter. He […]

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) – The Decatur Police Department is asking for the public’s help in solving a shooting that happened on Oct. 30. On that date, officers received reports of a shooting on North Union Street near West Leafland Avenue at approximately 3:30 a.m. When officers arrived, they found a male victim had been shot […]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) – Crime Stoppers of Sangamon & Menard Counties is asking for the public’s help in solving a burglary and theft that happened in Springfield last month. Crime Stoppers said that between noon on Oct. 23 and 7 a.m. on Oct. 25, a construction trailer located on the west side of Black Hawk […]

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) – Decatur Police officers are asking for the public’s help in solving a string of recent purse thefts. Officers said that each theft involves a suspect reaching into purses hanging off chairs and stealing wallets or credit cards. Restaurant patrons are reminded to pay close attention to their surroundings and to never […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking help from the public to get more information about a bank robbery that happened on October 15. Police said at around 1:25 p.m., they were dispatched to the First Midwest Bank on Springfield Avenue in response to a reported robbery. When police arrived at the […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A teenage girl is dead after officials said she was shot Wednesday night. Champaign Police said they responded to a reported shooting near Kenwood Road and White Street around 10:30 p.m.. When they got there, they found the girl was shot in her lower neck, stated officials in a news release. […]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Crime Stoppers is seeking information about two armed robberies related to sales on Facebook Marketplace. Officials said the incidents took place on September 28 and October 7 in between 9 and 10 p.m. In both incidents, the victims were asked to meet at an apartment on Vine Street. When the victims […]

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — As part of WCIA 3’s Victory Over Violence initiative, WCIA has started working more closely with Crime Stoppers to hold criminals accountable to create a safer Champaign County. Crime Stoppers leaders say they’re happy to announce one of their most productive months in years. Board members recently approved $4,000 in […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign Police arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection to a shots fired investigation near Centennial High School. Officers are also continuing to search for another suspect they said is involved in the situation. In a news release, police officials said a warrant was issued September 25 for the teenager on aggravated […]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) – Sangamon and Menard County Crime Stoppers is seeking information about an armed robbery that happened in Springfield earlier this month. According to police, the Coldstone Creamery at 124 South 6th St. was robbed on Sunday, Sept. 5. at 10:55 p.m. The suspect walked into the store with a handgun and demanded […]

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign County Crime Stoppers group is hoping to increase rewards for tipsters, but they need your help to make a difference. As gun violence impacts communities across the area, the group is looking for financial support to increase the effects of the Illegal Gun Bounty Reward Program. The program […]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) – The Springfield Police Department announced on Thursday that officers arrested three people for gun-related offenses. Members of the SPD’s Emergency Response Team served a search warrant on Tuesday at a house in the 800 block of south Douglas Ave. They took 20 year-old Tyvion Burton, 19 year-old Lontray Clark and 24 […]

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Decatur Police need the community’s help in finding a wanted man. In a Facebook post, officers said warrants are out for 20-year-old Malik Williams on unlawful possession of a handgun and resisting/obstructing a peace officer charges. If you know where Williams is, you can call Crime Stoppers at (217) 423-TIPS. If […]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) – Sangamon County Crime Stoppers is seeking information to help Springfield Police with a homicide investigation from last week. On August 9, Springfield police responded after someone said they found three dead bodies in a house on South 10th Street. The Sangamon County coroner pronounced them dead on the scene and their […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign police and fire departments are investigating several recent fires they believe were deliberately set. In a news release, officials said the fires were set between July 7 and August 2 during the overnight and early morning hours. Here is a list of the dates and locations of the fires: […]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Crime Stoppers is looking for information to help Springfield Police with their investigation into a homicide. In a news release, officers said police were called after 44-year-old Joseph “Joe” Sommer was found dead in his home on April 29. They are investigating his death as a homicide. Officers say they believe […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — “That’s really our best chance at really combatting gun violence so we just really encourage everybody to be apart of the solution,” Mary Catherine Roberson, City of Champaign Community Relations, said. That means bringing together the city, churches and community members. Groups decided to work together tonight on solutions for peace. […]

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) – Champaign County crime stoppers is working to end gun violence. They started a program to get illegal guns off the street, and they say it’s working. They’ve been able to get dozens of guns out of the wrong hands. It’s called the illegal gun bounty reward program. It’s an incentive […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Police in Champaign County are continuing to investigate a May theft from a customer at a Meijer department store. A press release from Crime Stoppers says it happened sometime between 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on May 12. Detectives say four suspects are being sought after a wallet was stolen from […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – We report on more shootings every week in Central Illinois. “This is happening in our own backyard. It’s an item of tremendous concern for all residents of Champaign County,” John Hecker, Champaign County Crime Stoppers President, said. It’s happening across the country. “It’s spreading through the entire community. No one is […]

DECATUR, Ill.(WCIA) — The Decatur Police Department needs your help solving a homicide case. It happened on the morning of July 5th, 2018 at 12:30 a.m. near the 1200 block of East Whitmer. While crews were on scene for a shots fired call, a man with a gunshot wound was brought to St. Mary’s Hospital. […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers are looking for information regarding a shooting that left a teenager hurt. In a news release, officers previously said it happened around 12:15 a.m. on April 19 near South Mattis Avenue and Chevy Chase Drive. When police got there, they found out a house was hit 14 […]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Sangamon County Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help with a shots fired investigation. A press release says it happened at 7:20 p.m. on Thursday, March 25 near Taylor Ave and Stanton Street in Springfield. Detectives say three suspects got out of a black Chrysler 300 that was parked in […]

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — The Decatur Police Department is looking for tips regarding an armed robbery investigation. In a news release, officers said the robbery–which happened near East Stuart Avenue and North Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive–was reported to police between 8 – 9 p.m. on April 13. Police talked with the victim who said […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign Police need help identifying two theft suspects. They said two men walked into the Target in Campustown and stole Apple products. One suspect was 5’8″ and weighed around 200 pounds. He was wearing a gray hat and blue shirt. The other suspect was 5’11” and weighed about 160 pounds. He […]

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers is continuing its Illegal Gun Bounty Reward Program. People can anonymously send a tip and potentially receive a cash reward. If that tip leads to the arrest of someone who used a gun for a felony in Champaign County, the person can receive up to $1,000. […]

Champaign, Ill. (WCIA) — “We don’t want people solving their conflict with gunfire,” Tracy Parsons with the Champaign County Community Coalition said. One Central Illinois town is trying to figure out how to get people to lay the guns down. Police say the gun violence is increasing for a variety of reasons. They range from […]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Springfield Police are looking for information regarding vandalism on a railroad viaduct mural. In a Facebook post, officers said the vandalism was done on the Route 66 Mural at the viaduct on 9th Street, just north of Converse Street. They stated it happened between the week of January 10 and January […]

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Decatur Police are looking for the community’s help in identifying possible porch pirates. Police shared pictures of the theft suspect on their Facebook page. If you have any information about this crime or know the suspects’ identities, call Detective Hitchens at (217) 424-2734 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. You can […]

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — The Decatur Police Department is asking for the public’s help with finding a man wanted in a robbery investigation. A press release from the Decatur Police Department says officers responded to a reported robbery at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Little Caesars, 1925 N. Water St. Police say officers were told by […]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Police are looking to identify two people involved in an incident from earlier this month. In a news release, officers said around 8:45 p.m. on December 2, security video showed two male suspects at the door of an apartment at The Boulevard Town Homes. The video showed one of the suspects, […]