Protecting anonymity while helping to prevent crime in the local community is the goal of Lake County Crime Stoppers. The chapter of the international nonprofit Crime Stoppers gives concerned residents a safe way to report illegal activity.

Since the chapter's inception in Lake County in 1983 more than 9,600 cases have been solved because of tips called into the Mundelein-based LCCS's office. In the same time period about $27.5 million dollars worth of property has been recovered and more than $900,000 has been paid out in reward money.

Local law enforcement officials and other LCCS board members were recognized during an awards luncheon Oct. 11.