Jan. 9, 2022, Toronto, Ont. – Breaking away from other Crime Stoppers programs in 2020, the Toronto program strategically rebranded into a Community Rewards Program, where they reinvest their efforts in community improvement initiatives rather than paying out individual rewards. And the shift continues to prove successful.
In recognition of January being Crime Stoppers Month, Toronto Crime Stoppers is announcing record-setting numbers for 2021. Despite the pressures of working within a global pandemic, the program was able to process 7,102 tips, having a significant impact on crime and community safety in the city.
The results of these tips contributed to the solving of eight homicides (100 per cent increase), 105 arrests (57 per cent increase), the laying of 780 charges (212 per cent increase), and the seizure of 18 firearms (200 per cent increase).
“Toronto Crime Stoppers continues to be a valuable partner for the Toronto Police Service,” said Chief of Police James Ramer. “Every year this program is responsible for processing thousands of tips that help our investigators make arrests, lay charges, and seize firearms, stolen property and illicit drugs. By building trust with the public and encouraging donations that are re-invested back into our neighbourhoods, our communities are safer because of Toronto Crime Stoppers.”
Along with record-setting statistics from 2021, Toronto Crime Stoppers is also going into 2022 with a number of successful campaigns and international recognitions.
- Over the last year, launched its Second Edition of the Captain Canuck comic with a story line focused on educating youth on reporting gun violence. This initiative was made possible thanks to the sponsorship from Paragon and The Bolo Program.
- In collaboration with the Bolo Campaign and the 10 Alton Towers Community; a playground revitalization project was completed where two young girls were victims of a shooting in 2018.
- In partnership with 31 Division and our friends at KYCS Global, we launched Project Lockdown – a campaign to create awareness on the growing issue of auto theft through technology. Members of the community were provided an RFID signal protective pouch (like this one here) that works to block the signal between the key fob and vehicle to prevent these types of thefts.
- In October, at both the Ontario Association of Crime Stoppers and Crime Stoppers International virtual award ceremonies; Toronto Crime Stoppers received several awards in the “Population Over 3 Million” Category.
Since the Toronto Crime Stoppers program launched in 1984, the community-based charitable organization lead by a dedicated group of volunteers has taken more than 177,000 tips, resulting in over 11,400 arrests, over 39,300 charges laid, and the seizure of $65.5 million in property nearly $317 million in illegal drugs.
“Toronto continues to have one of the largest and most successful Crime Stoppers programs in the world,” said Mayor John Tory. “Community safety really is a shared responsibility and the citizens of this great city come forward, anonymously, every single year to do their part. Programs and initiatives based on trusted partnerships between the police and the community are the future of this city and we are fortunate to have the Toronto Crime Stoppers program leading the way.”
Leading into 2022, the Toronto program is expanding their reach into the community through tactical partnerships. Understanding the critical importance partnerships have in creating community safety, Toronto Crime Stoppers have developed a partnership with GardaWorld to help spread the Crime Stoppers message in the community by installing a Crime Stoppers decal on their fleet of mobile patrol vehicles. Furthermore, GardaWorld have become the exclusive sponsor of the Project Lockdown key fob pouches to allow for the expansion of the program across the City of Toronto and across Ontario.
“Toronto Crime Stoppers remains resilient in our efforts to combat crime issues across the city and through the Community Reward Program model we reinforce the mindset that Community Safety Is A Shared Responsibility”, said Sean Sportun, Chair of Toronto Crime Stoppers. “The success of our program, seeing record setting statistics from 2021, is a testament to the community we serve that empowers a movement of a crime free Toronto”.
To help celebrate the 2022 launch, the CN Tower was illuminated
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