It came from LegacyTexas Title, in fact. It was supposed to be a secret, but I found out who the anonymous donor was behind that North Texas Crime Stoppers reward that increased from $10,000 to $12,500 shortly before Thanksgiving. A private donor, who asked to remain anonymous, added $2500 to the fund on November 25:
A Crime Stoppers official confirmed Wednesday that the reward had increased from $10,000 after a private donor, who they say asked to remain anonymous, kicked in $2,500 more. And Crime Stoppers still could receive more money in the near future.
I called Devin Rambie, Director of Business Development for LegacyTexas Title, and asked her if it was true that her company had written a check to help nab the attackers behind a string of robberies and beatings, at least 14 in all, including one hate crime, that has plagued the Oak Lawn area, known for it’s large and fun LGBT community and nightlife, since September.
Busted!
Many people have told me they are avoiding Oak Lawn at night these days, especially after the last incident where a bartender was attacked walking home from his job. He escaped by rolling under an SUV until help came from an off-duty police officer, but still suffered a skull fracture. It has become so worrisome that Mayor Mike Rawlings and City Councilman Adam Medrano have taken to walking the streets, while police patrol has been beefed up and Medrano is looking to add more lighting. A task force has been set up to do whatever a task force does — get undercover cops working, etc.
“What happened was that Laurence Henry (President and Title Attorney at LegacyTexas Title) came into my office shortly after all of this happened, and was so distraught, saying ‘can you believe this?’ and ‘what is happening in Oak Lawn?’ ” says Devin. “This is not only terrible, it could affect anyone who lives or works in the Oak Lawn area. It could adversely affect the real estate market there.”
So Devin and Laurence put their heads together. Devin made a series of phone calls that ultimately led her to talk with CeCe Cox at The Resource Center, a support center that ensures physical, emotional, and social health, equality, understanding, and acceptance for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and HIV communities. CeCe led her to Dallas City Hall, who led her to Chuck Curtis, who is on the board of North Texas Crime Stoppers, a national group that spans the United States with a network of local programs that work together to prevent and solve crimes in communities and schools the most effective way: offering big rewards for anonymous tips.
Chuck Curtis over at Crime Stoppers told me the purpose of the group is to offer rewards for anonymous tips, because that is one of the most effective way to catch criminals. As he puts it, there is no honor among thieves:
“Usually these criminals tell somebody about what they did, they brag about it because (believe it or not) they are proud of what they’ve done,” says Chuck. “So there are people out there who hear this and want to turn them in. Sometimes they do it because they have a sense of social responsibility. Sometimes they do it because money is a great incentive.”
The holidays are a great time to nab suspects, says Chuck. In some cases, Tipsters will even give Crime Stoppers the exact addresses. Such as, you can find him at such and such an address on Thanksgiving Thursday. When asked how they know the exact address, the tipster will often say it is because it belongs to a relative, and the criminal is going there for, say, Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
Talk about Family Vacation!
Chuck says North Texas Crime Stoppers offers 25 tip rewards a month, and they are truly anonymous. Most people are (understandably) afraid of retribution if they spill the beans on a friend or relative. They don’t want to be the next victim! Here’s how Crime Stoppers takes great pains to keep the whole process quiet: the tipster calls a secure phone line with no caller ID, and they are given an identifying number. If the suspect is arrested and indicted, Crime Stoppers contacts the tipster and arranges to meet them at a bank drive-through with no security cameras. Even the IRS isn’t notified! That’s how the tipster secretly collects the reward.
The higher the reward, the more likely a tip will come in. For example, there is now a $30,000 reward of donations for the murder of young Christina Marie Morris, who went missing from The Shops at Legacy in Plano after a night out with friends. The 23-year-old Fort Worth woman was last spotted on a surveillance video as she walked with an acquaintance to her car. But she never made it to her car, and her body has never been found, so police are holding 25-year-old Enrique Arochi. They cannot charge him with murder because they have not found Christina’s body. $30,000 could make someone talk and bring some peace to the young woman’s suffering family.
That why Crime Stoppers publicizes the rewards everywhere, from their website to television, which is going to happen now in the case of the Oak Lawn attacks, thanks to this big boost from LegacyTexas Title.
“We’ve created the Real Estate Friends for Oak Lawn. It will be publicized by Crime Stoppers to encourage tips. It’s our hope this group can help grow the reward,” says Devin. “We ask people to share this with your networks to support the initiative and help bring the perpetrators to justice.”
That should help residents of Oak Lawn feel safer in their neighborhood. And let them know how much the rest of the city cares about them.
You, too, can support this initiative by writing a check of any amount to the North Texas Crime Commission. Be sure to write the words “Real Estate Friends for Oak Lawn” in the memo line. Send to LegacyTexas Title, c/o Devin Rambie, 5949 Sherry Lane, Ste. 100 Dallas, TX 75225.
