Pubdate: Fri, 31 Jan 2003
Source: Lindsay Daily Post (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003 Lindsay Daily Post
Contact:  http://www.thepost.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2333

HERE'S A TIP: SUPPORT CRIME STOPPERS

Editorial - The message is getting out, according to Kawartha-Haliburton 
Crime Stoppers' coordinator Cst. Robin Shilz. She is referring to the huge 
jump in the number of tips to the organization, resulting in more arrests 
and convictions for a myriad of criminal activity in our region.

The number of tips last year totaled 236, up from 38 in 2001. That led to 
24 arrests, up from eight the previous year. And the number of cases that 
have been cleared thanks to tipsters was 81 last year, up from ten in 2001.

"This tells me something is working, and the public is paying attention to 
our message," Cst. Shilz says. "And what we're getting from our tipsters is 
good information."

Tipsters are calling Crime Stoppers about incidents ranging from odd 
behaviours to outright criminal activity. This information is proving to be 
extremely valuable to the City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service in their 
criminal investigations, and ultimately, in arrests and convictions.

"I think people are just getting sick and tired of seeing what's going on, 
and they're picking up the phone," Cst. Shilz says.

Crime Stoppers' most successful statistic is in the value of drugs that 
were seized in 2002 - $6.873 million. That's up from $141,000 the previous 
year.

"About half of that - $3.3 million - was from one bust of a Haliburton 
marijuana growing operation," she adds. "Most of the drugs seized is 
marijuana."

You would think an organization that provides such a valued service to the 
community would not be in dire need of volunteers to help in fundraising. 
(Crime Stoppers paid out $2,550 to tipsters in 2002, and none of that money 
comes from government funding.)

So kudos to Kawartha-Haliburton Crime Stoppers for their excellent work as 
partners in fighting crime in our communities. Hopefully, they will get the 
manpower and fundraising support they need to continue their work.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D