RCMP Cst. Gary O'Brien called the local crime stoppers program an "invaluable service" in the ongoing fight to maintain community safety. Nanaimo and District Crime Stoppers is volunteer run and completely independent from the Nanaimo RCMP. (NDCS)

By Ian Holmes

community safety

‘It’s a great tool:’ Crime Stoppers Month showcases program’s success in Nanaimo

Jan 19, 2020 | 4:52 AM

NANAIMO — A volunteer driven crime-fighting group in Nanaimo has been punching well above its weight class for a long time.

January is recognized nationally and by the City of Nanaimo as Crime Stoppers Month, in recognition of 550 all-time arrests from 9,800 anonymous tips to Nanaimo and District Crime Stoppers (NDCS).

Nanaimo RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien said the local Crime Stoppers program has an outstanding reputation locally and abroad.

“Since its inception in 1990 our program has basically led the way across B.C. If not across Canada,” O’Brien said. “We have garnered so many awards locally, provincially and even internationally.”

O’Brien said tips to NDCS directly resulted in $1.4 million worth of recovered property and $9.2 million of seized drugs.

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He said NDCS provides an alternate platform to alert police about crimes they otherwise may not be aware of.

While the court system relies on people giving up their privacy to lead to convictions, O’Brien said some people aren’t comfortable identifying themselves to solve crimes.

“We have to provide an alternative,” O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW. “The beauty of Crime Stoppers is that you never have to identify yourself, you never have to testify in court.

Tips to NDCS can be made by phone, email or through an app.

Rewards of up to $2,000 are handed out for information leading to an arrest, recovery of stolen property or seizure of illegal drugs or guns.

“In many cases those lodging successful tips don’t accept the reward, they’re just happy to make their communities safer,” O’Brien said.

More information on NDCS can be viewed on the organization’s new website, which includes a list of wanted Nanaimo area offenders.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes