Over $13 million of drugs and stolen property have been uncovered thanks to South Okanagan Similkameen Crime Stoppers tipsters since 1992.
Although, Crime Stoppers is not an entity of the RCMP, Insp. Brad Haugli had high praises for the group which is governed by a board of volunteer directors and a full-time co-ordinator.
“The RCMP in this region strongly support Crime Stoppers. If it wasn’t for Crime Stoppers there would be a number of criminals that weren’t arrested and a number of pieces of property recovered and drugs that wouldn’t have been taken off the streets,” said Haugli. “Ultimately it keeps our communities safer and works towards insuring that our police officers and our community and citizens are working together to try and eat at the crime that is out there.”
Since inception, Crime Stoppers in the South Okanagan Similkameen has helped police arrest 697 criminals, clear 753 cases and through information they have passed along to the RCMP 71 fugitives were taken off the street who were wanted outside the province.
Crime Stoppers co-ordinator Al Sismey, who is a former corporal in the RCMP, held a mitt full of stats showing the group’s worth and to help bring awareness to Crime Stoppers. Within those pages the stats show an alarming amount of the calls they receive are drug related. In Summerland $38,000 of drugs were seized in July and $10,000 worth of property was recovered in September in Penticton.
“The bulk are drugs, trafficking and grow ops. A lot of it is drug related and so much of our crime is drug related, that is the root cause. If I have a drug habit, I’m going to go to the stores and start shoplifting,” said Sismey.
One thing Crime Stoppers is trying to bring awareness to is the availability of web and text tips. Following the lead of the Toronto Crime Stoppers, Sismey said they are looking at embracing social networking. One thing the group wants the public to know is that their anonymity is protected when calling, texting or using the internet to give a tip.
“Their protection is one of our pillars,” said Sismey. “All of this accomplished with no cost to the police and information that in all likelihood would not have been gathered had there not been anonymity guaranteed with no requirement of the tipsters to testify in court.”
Callers are assigned a number, the information is taken and passed along to the police. Sismey said an investigation is launched by RCMP. Callers are advised to call back in a few weeks to follow up on their information and Sismey can look up the police file and see if there has been any activity to let the tipster know if charges have been laid. Crime Stoppers will not provide the tipsters any names of those charged, but in the case of a conviction the rewards committee will determine the amount of reward based on a sliding scale. Cash rewards are given out a number of ways, including the use of banks where tipsters can ask for any identifier to be put on an envelope to keep their identity hidden.
Crime Stoppers holds two major fundraisers throughout the year, going door-to-door with a coupon campaign and holding an annual golf tournament. Sismey said as part of their service, Crime Stoppers is also available to speak to groups or at events.
In the past year they have joined forces with local RCMP members to give youth learning opportunities and hands-on experience restoring an older car donated by Abe Kruger. Six youths from the Penticton Indian Band have taken on this project with the help of Penticton Towing, Lordco and mentor Wayne Landriault.
Sismey said the group continues to search out businesses within their area that are willing to participate in mentoring, providing parts or materials in kind or at reasonable rates.