Crime Stoppers Grey Bruce Logo (Image provided by Crime Stoppers Grey Bruce)
Crime Stoppers of Grey Bruce is reflecting on its success over the past year as it marks January as Crime Stoppers Awareness Month.
Over the last year, Crime Stoppers says it has received 800 tips, which has resulted in the recovery of over $160,000 worth of stolen property and the seizure of nearly $100,000 worth of drugs.
Chairperson Peter Reid says, “this year we crossed the $55 million for total property, cash and drugs seized in Grey and Bruce since Crime Stoppers began here, which is a huge number.”
While Crime Stoppers has been contributing to making communities safer, he says the organization is trying to play catch up with collecting donations.
“Crime Stoppers is a registered charity and we do have to fundraise for all our expenses and rewards and that is always a challenge, and really more so since Covid,” says Reid. “It’s still a challenge getting people out to events and another challenge we are also facing is getting people to come out and serve on the board. As a charity we are run by a volunteer board of directors and we could really use five or six more good people on that board.”
He adds while the last few years have been difficult for the organization, they have been receiving support from regional municipalities.
Reid says they would normally mark January as their awareness month by bringing attention to the organization. This year, however, they are taking a more laid back approach as they aim to change the month to September.
“The Crime Stoppers Canadian parent organization would like to move to September. It actually coincides with the actual start of Crime Stoppers, the first Crime Stoppers down in New Mexico before it was even called Crime Stoppers,” says Reid. “Move it to better recognize that and also nicer weather so we can do some events to commemorate Crime Stoppers.”
If you would like to support the organization, visit its website here.