Apparently, crime does pay.
And thanks to the efforts of people who offer tips to police through the Northern BC Crime Stoppers program, it’s the criminals who suffer.
2020 was a record year for Northern BC Crime Stoppers, which received 900 tips to help solve crimes, the most ever in one year since the program began in 1985. That’s up from 719 tips reported to police in 2019.
That information led to 31 arrests (compared to 14 arrests in 2019) and 10 cases being cleared by police. Callers to Crime Stoppers do not have to reveal their identity and the 11 callers whose tips helped solve crimes were rewarded with $2,400 in cash payments.
Acting on those tips, RCMP officers recovered $7,500 in cash, seized property worth about $10,000 and illegal drugs with an estimated street value of $144,000.
Since its inception in 1985, Northern BC Crime Stoppers has received 18,545 tips which led to 1,595 arrests and the recovery of $39.38 million worth of property and drugs. The 617 informants have received $178,700 in cash rewards.
Citizens can report tips of criminal activity by calling 1-800-222-8477(TIPS) or through the website at www.pgcrimestoppers.ca. The independent not-for-profit group asks that people provide as much detail as possible in their tips.
Formerly known as Prince George Crime Stoppers, the organization covers a huge territory from that stretches east to the Alberta border, west to Smithers, south to Williams Lake and north to the Yukon border.
Northern BC Crime Stoppers its planning its spring Shred-It event for Saturday, April 24 at the Prince George Secondary School parking lot. People will be encouraged to bring bags of personal documents and for a $5 donation those personal papers will be shredded to help prevent identity theft.
The new year will bring a new website, logo and mascot for Northern BC Crime Stoppers. Later this month the program’s board of directors will acknowledge its choices for officer of the year and watch of the year awards at the Prince George RCMP detachment.
