Skip to content

Crime Stoppers recognized for job well done

Organization was honoured with the Milestone Award which is given to the community that retrieves the most stolen goods

Campbell River Crime Stoppers recovered more stolen property last year than any other similar-sized B.C. community when it comes to dollars and cents.

For its efforts, the non-profit organization was honoured with the Milestone Award which is given to the community, with a population of less than 100,000, that retrieves the most stolen goods.

“Campbell River returned in excess of $81,000 in stolen property, which was the highest among communities under 100,000,” said Coun. Larry Samson.

The award was handed out at the B.C. Crime Stoppers’ annual general meeting in Kamloops recently. But it wasn’t the only award the Campbell River branch took home. Crime Stoppers coordinator Pat Patterson was awarded Coordinator of the Year in recognition of all of his hard work over the past year. Samson said it’s a testament to a job well done.

“It’s a very good news story for our local Crime Stoppers people and the excellent work that they do,” Samson said.

Last year was Crime Stoppers’ most successful year in the organization’s 23 year history in Campbell River.

Crime Stoppers seized $167,950 in stolen property and drugs and the tip line received 372 calls with 297 tips. Of those, 28 resulted in arrests and 43 charges being laid as well as 44 cases cleared.

Rob Harris, Crime Stoppers president, said the increase in tips and property recovered is thanks to the use of social media.

“This success was accomplished with the help of our media friends getting the word out, as well as extensive use of Facebook, Twitter and our Crime Stoppers website,” Harris said. “We tweeted 429 times, posted 400 times on Facebook and our website was viewed over 253,004 times.”

Since Campbell River Crime Stoppers was established in October 1990, it has received more than 4,526 tips resulting in $343,337 in stolen property recovered and $8.8 million in illicit drugs being destroyed. Crime Stoppers allows people who may have knowledge of a crime or a potential crime to report tips anonymously. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards up to $2,000 for tips that lead to an arrest.