Crime Stoppers Seeks Tips in Best Buy Theft
Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking the public for information about a September 20 theft of about $3,000 in merchandise from a Champaign Best Buy.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Property Crime
On September 20, a person walked out of the Best Buy at 2117 N. Prospect Ave. in Champaign with a desktop gaming computer, a monitor, and two headsets without paying. Champaign County Crime Stoppers has published a request for public help identifying the suspect.
Why it matters
The theft targeted high-value electronics and was described as a case where anonymous public tips could help identify a suspect. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards and anonymous reporting channels to encourage witnesses to come forward.
The suspect remains unidentified and at large as of the Crime Stoppers appeal, which describes the subject as a White male about 30 to 40 years old last seen in a tan baseball cap, gray hooded sweatshirt, and jeans. The subject left the area in a black four-door Dodge Charger, and no charges or arrests have been reported.
The players
Champaign County Crime Stoppers
A local anonymous tip program that partners with law enforcement in Champaign County and offers cash rewards for information leading to arrests.
Best Buy
A national electronics retailer whose Champaign store at 2117 N. Prospect Ave. was the site of the theft.
The details
Surveillance-style details in the appeal indicate the person selected a desktop gaming computer, a monitor, and two headsets before leaving the store without attempting payment. Crime Stoppers is asking anyone with information to submit a tip anonymously, which is routed through a third-party national call center and then passed to the appropriate law-enforcement agency.
Timeline
September 20: Theft occurred at Best Buy at 4:48 p.m.
November 9, 2026: Champaign County Crime Stoppers published its public request for tips.
Legal Context
Crime Stoppers programs use anonymous tip lines and cash rewards to supplement police investigations of property crimes such as retail theft. This appeal follows that model, relying on public tips rather than a publicly named suspect or arrest.
Shoppers and retail employees in Champaign can report suspicious activity or theft to Crime Stoppers anonymously. Rewards are available for tips leading to arrests, which may help reduce similar in-store thefts in the area.
The takeaway
Anonymous reporting programs like Crime Stoppers allow witnesses to share information without revealing their identity. Anyone with information about retail thefts in Champaign can contact the program directly.
Further reading
For similar local incidents, browse our Property Crime coverage.
More information
Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Crime Stoppers tip submission website.
