News (Media Awareness Project) - CN BC: Anti-Crime Tips Are Cost Effective |
| Title: | CN BC: Anti-Crime Tips Are Cost Effective |
| Published On: | 2011-02-18 |
| Source: | Langley Advance (CN BC) |
| Fetched On: | 2011-03-09 14:07:30 |
ANTI-CRIME TIPS ARE COST EFFECTIVE
Crime changes and policing changes, and so CrimeStoppers is changing,
too.
A staggering array of calls has come in to CrimeStoppers over the past
several decades, RCMP Cpl. Jack Stetz said Tuesday.
Stetz was the speaker at this month's Greater Langley Chamber of
Commerce dinner, and talked to the local businesses owners about the
past and present of the non-profit group.
"CrimeStoppers was started by a cold case in Albuqerque, New Mexico,
by a Canadian detective wh lived down there," Stetz said.
It was well known in the 1980s and 1990s in B.C. for running its
re-enactments of cold case criminal files on TV. However, it is
collecting tips from the public that remains its major endeavour.
In 2010, 26,890 calls were placed to CrimeStoppers in B.C., leading to
6,035 tips for investigators to follow up.
Tips range from information about murder and major drug deals, to
illegal garbage dumping, Stetz said.
About 10 per cent of all calls are nuisance tips or rants, Stetz said,
but the remainder are followed up on and many have resulted in
investigations, drug seizures, stolen property recovery, arrests, and
convictions.
Stetz explained the odd reward system that CrimeStoppers operates to
ensure the anonymity of its callers.
Every caller is given a number, he said. If the tip pans out, a reward
will be given, ranging from $2,000 for murder down to between $200 to
$500 for a busted marijuana grow op.
The caller will check back with CrimeStoppers and arrange a meeting
with someone from the non-profit, and cash will be handed over.
"In the old days, we would see a spike in tips right around rent
time," Stetz said. He noted that criminals certainly use the service
to inform on other criminals.
But the primary users of the service seem to be ordinary
citizens.
"Tips are up, rewards are down," Stetz said. "People are doing it out
of the goodness of their heart."
Technology has changed the service over the years. It now uses Twitter
and Facebook, along with its phone lines. In addition, some tips have
become very specific. The service has seen a few tips about outdoor
marijuana farms that included GPS coordinates. That allowed for very
quick seizures by police, Stetz said.
Crime changes and policing changes, and so CrimeStoppers is changing,
too.
A staggering array of calls has come in to CrimeStoppers over the past
several decades, RCMP Cpl. Jack Stetz said Tuesday.
Stetz was the speaker at this month's Greater Langley Chamber of
Commerce dinner, and talked to the local businesses owners about the
past and present of the non-profit group.
"CrimeStoppers was started by a cold case in Albuqerque, New Mexico,
by a Canadian detective wh lived down there," Stetz said.
It was well known in the 1980s and 1990s in B.C. for running its
re-enactments of cold case criminal files on TV. However, it is
collecting tips from the public that remains its major endeavour.
In 2010, 26,890 calls were placed to CrimeStoppers in B.C., leading to
6,035 tips for investigators to follow up.
Tips range from information about murder and major drug deals, to
illegal garbage dumping, Stetz said.
About 10 per cent of all calls are nuisance tips or rants, Stetz said,
but the remainder are followed up on and many have resulted in
investigations, drug seizures, stolen property recovery, arrests, and
convictions.
Stetz explained the odd reward system that CrimeStoppers operates to
ensure the anonymity of its callers.
Every caller is given a number, he said. If the tip pans out, a reward
will be given, ranging from $2,000 for murder down to between $200 to
$500 for a busted marijuana grow op.
The caller will check back with CrimeStoppers and arrange a meeting
with someone from the non-profit, and cash will be handed over.
"In the old days, we would see a spike in tips right around rent
time," Stetz said. He noted that criminals certainly use the service
to inform on other criminals.
But the primary users of the service seem to be ordinary
citizens.
"Tips are up, rewards are down," Stetz said. "People are doing it out
of the goodness of their heart."
Technology has changed the service over the years. It now uses Twitter
and Facebook, along with its phone lines. In addition, some tips have
become very specific. The service has seen a few tips about outdoor
marijuana farms that included GPS coordinates. That allowed for very
quick seizures by police, Stetz said.
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