CRIMESTOPPERS WEBSITE EXPECTED TO HELP FIGHT CRIME

A program that has enjoyed overwhelming success is promising even more
after CrimeStoppers of York Region launched its website Thursday.

Since CrimeStoppers York Region began collecting anonymous tips in 1986,
almost 2,000 arrests have been made from information the non-profit
organization has shared with police, almost $6 million in property has been
recovered and close to $78 million in drugs seized.

Offering rewards of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest,
CrimeStoppers has been authorized to pay out $177,250 in rewards to York
Region tipsters, although only $79,150 has been collected.

"Where else can you get a return on an investment like that?" Chief Armand
La Barge asked. "CrimeStoppers is an incredibly successful program and an
incredibly successful partnership."

The success of the program has also led to a successful bid to host the
2006 Ontario CrimeStoppers annual training conference at the Sheraton
Parkway Hotel from June 9 to 13, 2006.

More than 500 delegates from the 39 CrimeStoppers programs across Ontario
will come to York Region to take part in seminars on credit card fraud and
skimming, drug houses, youth crime, insurance fraud and management for
non-profit organizations.

The conference will also give the local program a chance to showcase the
new website and cutting edge online tip-reporting software.

The website includes links to information about York Region's most wanted
criminals, unsolved crimes and the CrimeStoppers program, plus the
anonymous online reporting system CrimeStoppers police liaison Det. Const.
Todd Snooks hopes will double the number of tips the civilian run
organization receives.

"It's a great program," Chief La Barge added. "We're hoping to attract more
tips from youth. Nowadays, teenagers are on the computer more than the
telephone. When they do use the phone it's a cellphone and you can get the
CrimeStoppers website up on your Blackberry as well."