The Crime Stoppers program is coming to Monmouth County in response to a greater need for support from residents helping law enforcement.

Monmouth County Crime Stoppers (Photo by Ilya Hemlin, Townsquare Media)
Monmouth County Crime Stoppers (Photo by Ilya Hemlin, Townsquare Media)
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Monmouth County Crime Stoppers is already offering a $5,000 reward for information on the 2009 death of 33-year-old Jonelle Melton. Melton's body was found in her Neptune City apartment on West Sylvania Avenue, and police are still unable to find the perpetrators behind the crime.

Neptune City Public Safety Director Edward Kirschenbaum says one of the biggest challenges they face is getting cooperation from the public.

"There are people that see things that happen that would rather not call anybody for fear of retribution, not wanting to get involved, or for thinking that we know about that information," he said.

For tips or get involved with Monmouth County Crime Stoppers you can call 1-800-671-4400 or visit their website.

He notes any kind of information is important, even something a resident might not think tangential to a case.

"Anything that they overhear people talking about. Anything as minute as someone claiming to know someone who may have been involved," Kirschenbaum said.

In addition to offering cash rewards for potentially vital information, Kirschenbaum said Crime Stoppers also takes measure to increase anonymity of callers.

"This takes it to the next step, there's not caller ID for Crime Stoppers while at some dispatch areas there is caller ID."

He adds residents can always make anonymous calls to their local police precinct, but Crime Stoppers adds the extra protections.

Kirschenbaum says that while Melton's case is the subject of a reward, residents of Monmouth County should feel free to use the Crime Stoppers program for any suspicious activities in their neighborhood.

"This is for any crime of any magnitude. Whether it be something as heinous as a murder; to theft, robberies, or burglaries. Crime Stoppers is about crime."

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