CrimeStoppers maintains a 24/7 Tip Line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) province-wide for anonymous information on a crime, and provides a cash reward up to $2,000 upon an arrest and charge for a tip.
CrimeStoppers of the South Cariboo Society president Al Blannin has been on the local team since its inception in 1996.
“It is a tool to help the local [RCMP] detachment, for people seeing things but not wanting to become involved.”
She explains dialling the CrimeStoppers line allows citizens to anonymously supply the police with information about a crime or potential crime they have knowledge about, without fear of reprisal or getting involved in any way.
They can call in about any suspicious activities, Blannin adds, and online anonymous reporting is also available.
A good way to see what in particular the local RCMP detachment is looking for is the CrimeStoppers Tip of the Week in the 100 Mile House Free Press, which she notes might prompt folks to recall something they noticed.
Blannin notes that using CrimeStoppers ensures anyone calling in will never be identified, even to police.
Instead, tipsters are assigned a unique number to reference when calling back or collecting a reward, Blannin explains, and they are known only by that ID number in relation to their tip.
“If they are interested in a reward, they are given a phone contact to call and state their number that they were given originally.”
Then they can ask if the tip was successful, if it has been resolved and if a reward is forthcoming, she says, in which case they will be given instructions for how to use their ID number to pick up the cash reward anonymously.
This can take some time to process, but Blannin notes it is completely up to the tipster to call again in order to retain full anonymity.
“They are paid in cash. We have a certain set up where they use a pseudo name and they are told when and how to get their money.”
She adds roughly half of these callers aren't interested in a reward, or don't follow up to seek this compensation.
“Now, many people who call in with tips just want to get the information out.”
Blannin says the local CrimeStoppers team of 10 volunteers is about the same size today as it was back in 1996 when she was recruited for the initial group, but the volume of calls has gone up significantly and the program is successful.
Many calls are in relation to drug grow operations or theft, she notes.
“If someone is watching something going on in their neighbourhood or next door that doesn't seem quite right, they should contact CrimeStoppers.”
Call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or submit a TIP online at www.bccrimestoppers.com/links.php.