It is July, 1976 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Michael Carmen, a university student, is working the night shift at a gas station, just 2 weeks before his wedding. It is midnight. Two men burst in with shotguns, take all the money, shoot and kill Michael.

Six weeks into the investigation detectives are still without leads. Canadian born Police Detective Greg MacAleese thought that is the public was able to observe a re-enactment of the crime on television this may lead to a citizen providing information that may lead to an arrest. In their desperation they put on a TV reconstruction of the event, and advertise a phone line for people to call anonymously. Anyone providing information regarding this murder/robbery would be eligible for a cash reward.

Within 72 hours Michael’s murderers were behind bars. They were sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

More importantly, detectives received lots of other information and solved many crimes unrelated to Michael’s murder thanks to the creation of an anonymous “Tips”- line.

This was the birth of Crime Stoppers, which now operates throughout the world.

In November 1982, Calgary was the first Canadian city to start the program, followed by Edmonton in 1983.