The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is recognizing January as Crime Stoppers Awareness month.
Members of the Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers board of directors joined Mayor Darrin Canniff, CAO Michael Duben and Fire Chief Chris Case on Jan. 3 to raise the Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers flag at the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre.
The local Crime Stoppers began in 1987 and allows people to send in tips regarding criminal activities anonymously. The tips are then passed on to the appropriate police service, which includes the Chatham-Kent Police Service or the Chatham-Kent OPP.
As a non-profit, Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers relies on donations to run its tip line and anti-crime programs and pay out cash rewards. The rewards are given to people who submitted tips that led to an arrest, recovery of stolen property or illicit drugs.
“Being a non-profit, non-government organization, we rely heavily on volunteers and public donations to keep our program going,” Angie Shreve, president of the Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers board of directors, said in a news release.
As a new way to raise money, the local Crime Stoppers will be hosting its first 50/50 online draw this year.
Tips can be sent using the Anonymous Tip Email at https://crime-stoppers.on.ca or by sending a text message to 274637 with the keyword CKCS. Tips can also be called anonymously to 1-800-222-8477.