1,330 ARRESTS CREDITED TO TIPS LINE

Crime Stoppers Celebrates 20 Years

Near North Crime Stoppers is celebrating 20 years of anonymous calls
and catching criminals in the North Bay area.

The tips line has brought in 11,160 crime tips that led to 1,330
arrests since its inception in 1988.

Jean Lemieux has been working as the police co-ordinator for six
years and said his most memorable case was a drug bust a number of
years ago when $4,000 worth of marijuana was seized after a tip was
called in anonymously.

It is rewarding because you do make a difference in what's going
on," said Lemieux.

The Near North chapter got its start in June 1988 with help from the
Hamilton branch, which worked to form a board and train volunteers.

"It was a relatively new idea when we started out," said Art
Appleton, a Near North Crime Stoppers board member for all 20 years.

The thing that attracted people was that the info on criminal
activity was provided anonymously," Appleton said.

Crime Stoppers is an independent organization that works as a
middle-man between people with information and the police.

People know what's going on but sometimes they are afraid to talk to
the police or don't want to go to court," said Lemieux.

Every day people call with tips. Close to 50 per cent of the tips we
receive are drug related."

Crime Stoppers also helps solve break-ins, fraud and poaching cases.

Now it works as a crime prevention program because if you can raise
the chances of people being detected, then people will think twice
before committing a crime," said Appleton.

He said Crime Stoppers creates an important network that connects
crime information across the province, helping to find the missing
links in mysterious cases.

In 2007 the Near North chapter received 560 tips that lead to 37
arrests, and gave out $7,140 in rewards.

Close to 75 per cent of people don't want the reward," said Lemieux.

To mark its 20th year in operation, the North Crime Stoppers will
celebrate with cake, coffee and giveaways today at 1 p. m. at
Northgate Shopping Centre near Future Shop.

Statistics

2007 Tips received: 560 Arrests made: 37 Rewards paid: $7,140

2006 Tips received: 556 Arrests made: 33 Rewards paid: $7,150

2005 Tips received: 656 Arrests made: 79

Rewards paid: $10,090

2004 Tips received: 591 Arrests made: 72

Rewards paid: $14,200

2003 Tips received: 556 Arrests made: 97

Rewards paid: $12,890