Top Stories Of 2009
January Marks Crime Stoppers Awareness Month
January 2, 2009, Simcoe, ON - January is known around the world as Crime Stoppers awareness month and also the time of year that Crime Stoppers of Haldimand, Norfolk and Tillsonburg wants to make sure that everyone knows that the crime fighting program offers cash rewards for anonymous tips that help to solve crime.
“Crime Stoppers is involved in many different aspects of crime fighting and crime prevention, but the bottom line is that the program is a very simple one,” says Gord Little, Chairperson for Crime Stoppers of Haldimand, Norfolk and Tillsonburg. Little further comments, “The program gives people an anonymous, confidential way to get information to investigators without ever having to get involved as a witness; and if a caller’s information helps to solve a case, then that anonymous caller becomes eligible for a cash reward up to $2000.”
Since its formation in 1988, the Crime Stoppers of Haldimand, Norfolk and Tillsonburg has been working diligently helping to solve and prevent crime in our local area. Hundreds of tips come into the toll free tips line every year and tips taken range traffic violations and animal abuse to organized crime and murders. The main function of Crime Stoppers is to assist in solving these crimes, but the program also works to prevent these offences from occurring by acting as a powerful deterrent to would-be criminals.
Crime Stoppers past chairperson Ken Schaus states, “Our goal is to have the Crime Stoppers name and phone number visible in as many places as possible to make sure that everyone is aware of our anonymous 1-800-222-TIPS phone number.” He adds, “This type of visibility acts as a powerful deterrent because criminals never know who might be watching and ready to anonymously report information about illegal activities for cold, hard cash.”
Crime Stoppers of Haldimand, Norfolk and Tillsonburg will be participating in different educational and promotional activities throughout January’s awareness month including focusing its weekly “crime of the week” segment on unsolved crimes from the past year in an attempt to bring closure to some outstanding cases.
Crime Stoppers works as a triad involving the community, the media and the police in an ongoing fight against crime. It is a community-owned program with international roots that date back to 1976. Since then the program has spread into 22 countries world-wide.
Crime Stoppers of Haldimand Norfolk and Tillsonburg encourages those with information on any crime to contact the program anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or by logging on to www.helpsolvecrime.com. Cash rewards are paid for information leading to an arrest or charge. Callers will never have to deal directly with the police or testify in court.