Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers wants to use the prices to help find wanted criminals.

The nonprofit organization is launching a $250 gas card giveaway for tips that put 50 wanted sex offenders, gangsters, domestic violence abusers and felons behind bars.

“Gas is so expensive right now we want to use any tool we can to get these solved,” said Ed Troyer, executive director of Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers. “If we can clean a lot of these people up, it would take a big bite out of crime countywide.”

The organization has been working on the idea of a gas card giveaway for a couple of months. Officials worked with area law enforcement agencies to identify the offenders who would be highlighted in the campaign.

Officials came up with 50 men and women, each of whom has at least one outstanding warrant.

They are the 10 most wanted sex offenders, domestic violence violators and gangsters in Pierce County. They also are people listed on the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and Tacoma Police Department’s Top 10 Most Wanted lists.

The lineup includes four accused murderers as well as thieves, burglars, robbers, drug dealers and child abusers.

“They are the most serious,” Troyer said. “Everyone of them goes to jail.”

Crime Stoppers typically offers up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and charges filed in a case. For the 50 offenders only, a $250 gas card is being offered as a bonus.

The giveaway begins today. Photographs and descriptions of each offender, as well as the crimes they are accused of, are posted on Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers’ Web site. The list might be updated and changed. Troyer said the campaign will be on the Web site through the end of the summer and maybe longer, depending on its success.

“We know Crime Stoppers works,” Troyer said. “It’s a really good bang for our buck.”

Stacey Mulick: 253-597-8268

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