JANUARY IS CRIME STOPPERS MONTH

January is Crime Stoppers Month internationally and Brandon Crime Stoppers is once again bringing attention to the program’s success in Brandon and Western Manitoba. Crime Stoppers police coordinator, Const. Ron Burgess, said 2008 was another good year, with 351 tips received that resulted in 73 arrests and the clearing of 139 police cases. Crime Stoppers Month is marked internationally to give the local Crime Stoppers organizations an opportunity to “highlight the successes we’ve had”, said Todd Birkhan, chair of the local board of volunteers which administer the local program.

In 2008, the Brandon program was also responsible for the recovery of $76,260 in stolen property and drugs, and the local board approved rewards totaling more than $6700.00.

A luncheon for the Brandon volunteers, sponsors and Crime Stopper supporters will be held on January 29, 2009, to say thank you for a job well done.

Crime Stoppers month has been officially recognized by the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Canada, numerous State Government Leaders and Provincial Premiers, the United States Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as well as countless other law enforcement agencies.

Besides Birkhan, other members of the volunteer Crime Stoppers Board are vice–chair Rick Thomson, Tanis Low, Blair Cairns, Ken Shumay, Kristen Falk, John Loregio, Ross Mann, Sharon Fordyce, Ernie Neilson and Chad Fouillard.

Crime Stoppers depends on the public’s eyes and ears to help solve crimes. Persons who have information about a crime are urged to call Crime Stoppers at 727-TIPS (727-8477).  They can also go on line at www.brandoncrimestoppers.com, or just recently, by text messaging BCSTIP plus their message to CRIMES (274637). Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display. Calls are not recorded and the identity of the person calling is guaranteed to remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2000 cash for information that leads to the solution of a crime.

For further information contact:

Const. Ron Burgess, Coordinator, 729-2390