The arrival of January 2018 has special significance for Crime Stoppers of Halton.

It is the launch of Crime Stoppers Month and the beginning of a celebration to mark the 30^th anniversary of Halton Crime Stoppers.

Cal Millar, the chair of Halton Crime Stoppers, will officially kick off Crime Stoppers Month during a presentation to the Probus Women’s Club of Burlington Thursday, January 4 at the Burlington Art Gallery.

A reception will also be held January 22 in the rotunda at the Halton Regional Centre to recognize sponsors, the media, law enforcement partners, supporters and volunteers.

Crime Stoppers Month has been held each year in January by Crime Stoppers programs worldwide after first being proclaimed in 1986 at the annual Crime Stoppers International conference in Edmonton, Alberta.

In addition to recognizing those who support crime solving initiatives in the community, Crime Stoppers Month gives the opportunity to local Crime Stoppers programs to release annual statistics, reveal priorities and announce the program’s theme for the year.

Last year board members with Halton Crime Stoppers adopted – “See Something, Hear Something, Say Something” – as the 2017 motto, but now directors have changed the “Say Something” to “Know Something” and have included a call to action by adding the words: “Contact Crime Stoppers” to the message.

The 2018 theme recommended to the more than 1,700 programs around the globe was “Recognizing Transnational Organized Crime” however the board of directors of Halton Crime Stoppers decided building on their current theme is a more appropriate message for local residents.

The international theme was chosen because of what Dave Forster, president of the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association, described as the continued increase in human trafficking and the infiltration of contraband and counterfeit goods, often under the direction of organized crime groups. He also cited the growing threat of cyber-crimes and the global poaching of endangered wildlife as key targets for Crime Stoppers.

Forster also said Canada isn’t immune from this type of criminal activity. “These threats exist in communities all across Canada.”

Detective Constable Jodi Richmond, coordinator of Halton’s Crime Stoppers program, acknowledged human trafficking, poaching and cyber-crime do occur here, but are not considered major crime problems in this area.

“Local residents want to know our streets are safe and Halton’s various communities remain among the safest areas in Canada for people to live, work and play,” she said.

Like all communities, Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills have their share of nuisance crime such as vandalism, graffiti and thefts, but violent crime is a rare occurrence in the region.

Detective Constable Richmond said when serious criminal acts occur anywhere across the region, appeals are issued by Crime Stoppers and detectives from Halton Regional Police follow up on every anonymous tip that comes in from the public.

“We have an extremely successful Crime Stoppers program because the public, the media and the police are partners in the fight against crime,” she said. “When everyone works together – crimes are solved and the region is a much safer place.”

Crime Stoppers of Halton was officially formed in 1988 and our most recent statistics show the program has been responsible for solving 2,172 cases, the arrest of 1,185 individuals, the recovery of $2,734,747 in stolen property and the seizure of $18,098,333 in drugs. (The complete accumulative and annual statistics will be released at the Jan. 22 Open House along with recognizing our major supporters.)

A preliminary review of statistics shows Halton Crime Stoppers had tremendous success in 2017 but hoping for even greater achievements during our 30^th anniversary. Priorities so far identified for 2018 will be replacing the 2007 Dodge Magnum which has served for a decade as Halton’s Crime Stoppers vehicle; expanding the reach of Crime Stoppers to students across the region and improving service to seniors and newcomers to the area who may have difficulty communicating in English.

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Contact:         Detective Constable Jodi Richmond

                        Coordinator

                        Halton Crime Stoppers

                        905-825-4747 X 5118

Roger Alfaro (HCS Treasurer), Mayor Rob Burton, HCS Director D/Cst Jodi Richmond and Colin Jessome (HCS Director)

Corey Evans (HCS Director) Mayor Rick Goldring, and Colin Jessome (HCS Director)

Cst Gina Brunelle, HCS Coordinator D/Cst Jodi Richmond, Mayor Gordon Krantz and Cst Maureen Andrew

Colin Jessome (HCS Director), Mayor Bonnette, and HCS Coordinator D/Cst. Jodi Richmond