10 THINGS THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU ABOUT CRIME STOPPERS

1. Seven local murders have been solved thanks to Crime Stoppers in
the capital region since the program began in 1984.

2. Calls that come over the tips line are not tape-recorded, and
phones are not equipped with call display.

3. Web tips are increasing and text-messaged tips from cellphones are
on the horizon.

4. Victoria is the only Crime Stoppers program left in B.C. that has
police officers to take direct calls. "The reason we've stayed with
that is we feel we are better trained and can get more information
than a call centre," says Const. Ann Zimmerman, who has been with
Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers for five years. When officers are away
from their phones, tipsters are routed to a call centre in Kelowna
that is staffed 24/7.

5. Not everyone collects their awards of up to $2,000. Tipsters who
lose the confirmation number they're given at the time of the tip are
out of luck.

6. The case doesn't have to be solved to be closed; an arrest is
enough to earn a reward.

7. The cash awards -- totalling $385,000 since 1984 -- are paid out of
donations from the public. There are no government grants, although
both the Saanich and Victoria police departments each commit an
officer to the program.

8. Drug-related calls made up about 200 of the 500 calls in the last
year.

9. Crime Stoppers is not run by the police. The program is a joint
effort among police, the media and the community, which is represented
by an independent board of directors.

10. Crime Stoppers works with agencies besides the police, including
fraud investigators at ICBC and Revenue Canada, fisheries and wildlife
officials, and border services.