WELLINGTON COUNTY – Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington (CSGW) officials say 2019 was a “tremendous” year for the organization.
Last year, over $76,200 in property, cash and illegal drugs was recovered in police investigations thanks to CSGW tip providers.
That total is over 42 times the 2018 total of $1,750.
“We have received a number of high-quality tips,” said Sarah Bowers-Peter, program coordinator for CSGW.
“Our tip volume was pretty much the same, but the impact was tremendous.”
In 2019, 807 calls and web tips were submitted to CSGW, on track with 2018.
While not a police organization, CSGW works with Wellington County OPP and Guelph Police Service by offering a safe, anonymous method for the public to report information that could lead to arrests in local criminal acts.
As a result of the tips provided, 15 cases were cleared in 2019, a 25% increase over 2018, and 68 charges were laid.
The number of charges laid is almost double the previous year.
“The message is out there, and people are trusting that Crime Stoppers is making a difference to help keep our communities safe. This is why we are here,” said Bowers-Peter.
The CSGW board of directors has approved $171,370 in rewards to tip providers since it was founded in 1988.
Reporting
The program, an alternative to reporting directly to police, accepts tip information via www.csgw.tips and 1-800-222-TIPS.
