VANCOUVER POLICE NOW TAKING E-TIPS

Four Arrests Come on Heels of New Web Page of Top Suspects

The Vancouver police department is urging citizens to log on to its
Internet site and help nab Vancouver's 10 Most Wanted.

A new page on the VPD's website features photos of and details about
its 10 most wanted suspects and another 80 people who have
outstanding warrants.

Since the page went live Thursday, the VPD has received information
leading to three arrests, said Const. Howard Chow.

Police hope that this early success will continue as more people hear
about the new web page and log on.

Chow said Friday that the VPD has over 20,000 people in its system
with outstanding warrants on matters ranging from major crime to
immigration, taxation and bylaw infractions.

Mayor Sam Sullivan joined the VPD at the media launch of the site,
and urged the public to check it out.

"We have incredible police," said Sullivan, "but they can't do it all."

To access the page, log on to the vpd.ca website and click on the
sign that says "WANTED: HIDING IN PLAIN VIEW."

"This is one of the snazziest web pages that we have seen out there
and we have done a lot of research," said Chow. "It's attractive to
the eye and user-friendly."

People with information on the location of any of the suspects can
call 911 or link to a Crimestoppers website where they can provide
information without being identified.

"You can actually give a web tip without even actually calling and
speaking to anybody," said Sgt. Guy Draper.

Chow said many of the suspects on its list are transients with no
fixed addresses. "We're hoping the public can help us by telling
where these people reside."

The police have arrested 84 people since September 2005 because of
information provided by citizens, said Draper. More than $40,000 has
been given out to citizens for tips so far this year, he added.