BANNER YEAR FOR CRIME STOPPERS

Crime Stoppers of Halton is celebrating its success after statistics
revealed the organization received 34 per cent more tips last year than the
year before.

"For the most part, everything increased. We're particularly proud of the
sheer number of tips-it blew last year's figures away," said co-ordinator
Sgt. Ray Bruce.

In 2003, Crime Stoppers of Halton received 406 tips. Last year, that number
was 546. There were also increases in the number of arrests and charges
laid last year, as well as the number of cases cleared due to tips.

The positive statistics are particularly timely, since this month marks
Crime Stoppers Month, recognized by about 1,200 Crime Stoppers programs in
20 countries around the world. The theme this year-the Halton
organization's 17th birthday-is 'Caring for your Community'.

Crime Stoppers of Halton is a non-profit, charitable organization managed
by a volunteer board of directors. The program is successful due to its
partnership with the Halton Regional Police Service, the community, the
media and the government.

Since its start, Crime Stoppers of Halton has been responsible for the
arrest of 682 people and 1,458 cases have been solved. Almost $2 million
has been recovered in stolen property, as well as more than $13 million in
illicit drugs.

Bruce said he attributes last year's increase in tips to Crime Stoppers'
recent focus on public awareness, including Bruce's recent 300-kilometre
cross-Halton bike ride to raise money and awareness.

Crime Stoppers is also continuing to make presentations to Halton schools,
which helps bring in tips.

"There's no doubt there's a spike in calls after presentations in schools,"
Bruce said.

The only statistics that decreased this year were the values of property
recovered and narcotics seized.

Bruce said that's because in 2003 a transport trailer with all its contents
were recovered. When that's taken out of the figures, the value of property
recovered pretty much stayed the same in 2003 and last year.

As for narcotics seized, Bruce said he can only surmise as to why just
$1,734,000 was recovered last year as opposed to $3,821,000 the year before.

"I'd like to think the number of grow houses in Halton is reducing," he
said, adding, "I hope that's the case."

As usual, only about half the rewards approved were claimed by tipsters.
That shows people aren't doing it for the money, Bruce said. But, he added,
Crime Stoppers is more than happy to pay the rewards.

If people don't want to keep the money, Bruce suggests they accept it and
donate it to a charity or back to Crime Stoppers.

Crime Stoppers was the brainchild of a New Mexico detective, who was trying
to solve the slaying of a 21-year-old college student shot during a gas bar
robbery in 1976.

He convinced a TV station to produce a re-enactment of the murder, and a
reward was put up if anyone would call anonymously and provide the names of
the people responsible. Three days after the re-enactment aired, two
suspects were arrested for the killing, thanks to the tips that came in.