Crime Stoppers of Michigan continues push against crime amid the coronavirus crisis

(WXYZ) — COVID-19, the deadly virus that has virtually changed life as we once knew it – what it is doing to innocent people seems criminal.

So, we must talk about it. We can not forget that crime is still happening around us. Shootings, rapes, robberies, murders and more.

The police are still called when these horrific things happen, but so is Crime Stoppers of Michigan.

“There’s so many things particularly in the Crime Stoppers world that we need to do, that we can’t do," said Dan DiBardino, president and CEO of Crime Stoppers of Michigan. "One of them as you well know is press conferences, which is so important to get information out to a lot of people.

"We’re meeting people one-on-one, when we should be meeting with families. It’s just upsetting what we have to do, but we realize to keep people safe, and not spread this thing, we gotta do what we gotta do,” he added.

DiBardino speaks frankly about the facts.

“In reality, people are now praying on people as a result of us going through this pandemic," he said. "We’ve gotta be more cautious."

So, the organization is doing things differently to get its message out.

“On all of your social media platforms – the electronic media... has been very helpful to make sure we continue to get the word out," DiBardino said. "So as a result, I’m happy to tell you, tips have not decreased. I’m more concerned that families know that we are here. You’ve interviewed hundreds of these people, you know that. They’re directed to us by the police agencies who say, maybe these people can help.”

Crime Stoppers isn’t stopping, despite COVID-19.

“Thank God solutions have come about," DiBardino said. "People have been held accountable. Unfortunately, some of those cases are still open. Wonderfully, on the other side of the coin, cases that you or others in the media have put there for people to see, have been closed."

Still, there are loved ones searching for answers because they deserve them.

If you want to help with Crime Stoppers efforts, they could use it. They ask that you join its $5 a month club. It would be $60 a year.

What that would mean to help families seeking justice is priceless. Just go to 1800speakup.org. And if you have information about a crime, call 1-800-Speak-Up or visit the website above.

Remember, you don’t have to tell them who you are. Just tell them, what you know.

Additional Coronavirus information and resources:

Read our daily Coronavirus Live Blog for the latest updates and news on coronavirus.

Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.

View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.

Find out how you can help metro Detroit restaurants struggling during the pandemic.

See all of our Helping Each Other stories.

See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.