A PHONE CALL HELPS FIGHT CRIME

To serve and protect.

Police battle criminals 24-7. It's a war that never ends. Many battles are
won, some are lost.

One of the most effective ways in fighting crime is Crime Stoppers, the
non-profit program that relies on the co-operation between the police,
media and community to combat crime. January is Crime Stoppers Month. It is
a program that places residents like you and I behind the badge simply by
making a phone to police when we have information on criminal acts. As much
success as police have in fighting crime, Crime Stoppers is a very
beneficial program in that the community can provide pertinent information
which can lead to arrests and convictions.

In 2002, more than 560 tips were called into Crime Stoppers of Haldimand,
Norfolk and Tillsonburg resulting in 59 arrests, more than $215,000 worth
of stolen property recovered and perhaps most impressive, more than $8.5
million worth of illegal drugs removed from the street. The shutdown of
numerous illegal "grow houses'' accounted for a bulk of the increase in
recovered drugs. Oxford County was also the site of a countless number of
grow houses shut down last year - many closures taking place after
neighbours called Crime Stoppers.

The Oxford County detachment of the OPP says an estimated 98 per cent of
grow houses are based in newer homes in which "sophisticated and structural
changes can be made in order to supply light, water and ventilation to
plants.''

Crime Stoppers works. A phone call is all it takes (1-800-222-TIPS). All
callers remain anonymous and tips can earn cash awards of $1,000.

- - Bill Scriven