Online auction, telethon to help Crime Stoppers

CINCINNATI - If it weren't for Crime Stoppers, thousands of cases over the past 30 years may have never been solved. And, it is that time each year when Crime Stoppers asks for the public's help so they can keep doing valuable and important work.

Ask any Tri-State law enforcement officer and they'll tell you the best tool to help them fight crime is the public's participation. That's where Crime Stoppers comes in.

Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for clues that lead to arrests. The tipsters remain anonymous and the program is incredibly successful with convictions in 90 percent of its cases. It has helped solve crimes in literally every part of southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and southeast Indiana.

You can help make a difference by participating in the 2011 Crime Stoppers Telethon. It's coming up at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13 on Channel 9.

The other way to help is by going to the online auction. There you'll find things like Reds and Bearcats tickets, a special VIP package to the Kentucky Speedway, vacations in places like Key West and Las Vegas, just to name a few.

You'll also find unique gifts like the use of the "Bridezilla" limo. This converted "stretch armored car" will knock you out... and give you one of the safest rides anywhere.

You could also check out an exclusive graphic print of the 1976 Reds starting lineup or an autographed baseball by Reds outfielder Jay Bruce. Maybe you'd like to go to L.A. and see "Ellen" or New York and see "LIVE with Regis & Kelly". Or, you could stay home and visit the Channel 9 studios and maybe have dinner with our own Dennis Janson.

Check out everything in the auction by going to http://mywinningbid.auctionanything.com/ and keep checking back often to see more items as well as how the bidding is going.

You can also make a donation directly to Crime Stoppers by going to http://crime-stoppers.us/donate.aspx .