Crimefighting charity Crimestoppers received an astonishing 33% increase in calls from members of the public in the Central area last year.
The rise in anonymous tip-offs with useful information about suspected illegal activity was one of the largest in Scotland.
It was hailed by Kate Jackson, Crimestoppers Scotland’s manager, as evidence the public want to help tackle criminal behaviour in their community.
Crimestoppers received 501 calls from people in Central in 2012-13, an increase of 125 from the previous year.
Tayside had the largest rise, from 616 to 917, while Fife had the smallest at 8%, with calls going up by 66 to 853. Across Scotland there was an increase of 24.2% (2,249 calls) to 11,530.
The figures come as a boost for the organisation, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary. Crimestoppers is the independent charity which invites people to phone 0800-555-111 without revealing their identity to report details of suspected crimes.
These can be anything from drink-driving to human trafficking or murder. Staff receive the information without asking the callers who they are and pass it on to the police or other agencies to investigate.
Callers have their own reason for not contacting the police directly they may fear retribution but their conscience makes them want to pass on what they know to the independent body secure in the knowledge they do not have to identify themselves.
Once Crimestoppers sends the information to the police, officers can find it is the vital missing link in a chain of evidence which allows a criminal to be charged and prosecuted.
Ms Jackson said “The figures show the public want to help when it comes to criminal behaviour in their community and this is encouraging.
“We don’t take personal details from people who contact us with information, so no one will ever know that they have called us.”
Brian Whyte, chairman of Crimestoppers’ Tayside board, said: “I am delighted with the increase in calls in the Tayside area.
“The charity receives around 1,000 calls per week in the UK and as a result of this, an average of two people per day are arrested. It should be stressed that Crimestoppers only works successfully because all calls are made anonymously.
“We do not know where any call has originated but we can keep a record of where the information has been passed and that’s what is important.”
Chief Superintendent Hamish Macpherson, head of Police Scotland’s Tayside Division, said Crimestoppers has played a leading role in keeping Tayside safe.
“The information we receive is greatly valued. On countless occasions, it has proved crucial in assisting our inquiries, identifying criminals, taking them off of our streets and putting them before the courts,” he added.
“It is vital that people, who might not otherwise call the police, have that avenue to provide information anonymously to Crimestoppers.
“We fully appreciate people can and do have fears or reservations about the implications of getting directly involved with the law enforcement agencies.
“Crimestoppers provides us with a link that we, as the police, would not otherwise have, with members of the public who want to speak out to combat crime but are cautious of what it might mean for them personally.”
Crimestoppers also put up £10,000 for information leading to the capture of the killer of Perthshire pensioner Jenny Methven and £5,000 for a tip-off leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer of Dundee man John McMurchie.
As well as the 0800 555 111 line, there is a giving information form on www.crimestoppers-uk.org.