New York ( CNN ) -- Suffolk County Police have upped the ante in their search for a killer or killers who apparently dumped their victims along a remote stretch of beach in Long Island , New York . The reward for information leading to an arrest -- once topping out at $ 5,000 -- was raised five-fold , according to a police statement Thursday . The $ 25,000 reward would be the largest offered in Suffolk County history , in an apparent bid to fill out a possible serial killer case that some fear has gone cold . `` We 're hoping the increased reward money will encourage somebody to come forward by calling the police in respect to the families and to ( the ) victims , '' Lt. Robert Donohue said . At least 10 sets of human remains have been found in Long Island 's Nassau and Suffolk counties since December . The woman who originally prompted the searches -- 23-year-old Shannan Gilbert -- remains missing , and police say they have sifted through more than 1,000 tips related to the case . The New Jersey woman was last seen in May 2010 at a private party at a home in the Oak Beach community . `` I am hopeful that the increased reward will provide critical information to help bring those responsible to justice , '' Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer said . Like the four victims who were found in December and have since been identified , Gilbert advertised prostitution services on websites like Craigslist .
Suffolk County Police are offering up to $ 25,000 for tips leading to arrest . The suspect is described as a white male in his early 20s with short black hair and brown eyes. At least 10 sets of human remains have been found on Long Island since December .