Co-ordinator Dean Rutherford says in 2008 they surpassed the 30 million dollar mark in seized drugs and stolen property.
Rutherford says that tally has been running since the start of Crime Stoppers in this area in 1987.
Rutherford says that’s an impressive number – the figures break down to 28 million dollars worth of seized drugs and 3 million dollars worth of recovered stolen property.
Rutherford believes what makes the program so successful is that it allows the community to be the eyes and ears for police.
He also says it’s a way for those fearful of going directly to police to come forward in an anonymous way.
January is International Crime Stoppers Month and Rutherford says they take that opportunity to announce their successes through statistical figures.
He says because of the anonymous nature of the program they cannot publicize individual cases or let people know which crimes were solved as the result of a Crime Stoppers tip.
Looking at 2008, Rutherford says the number of tips was down slightly – but he says what matters is quality over quantity.
Rutherford says over the past year they shut down major drug operations, arrested several wanted persons, and provided police with other valuable information.
In 2008, 432 tips resulted in the seizure of 2 million dollars worth of drugs and 24-thousand dollars worth of stolen property.
Rutherford says the past year also saw technological advances in the program.
You can now send in ‘web tips’ over the Internet through a secure site, crimestop-gb.org.
Rutherford says other Crime Stopper programs also now use ‘text tips’, where tips can be sent via a text message written on your cell phone, and Grey Bruce may get that option soon.
