“Cash for Guns” campaign aims to get at least 500 illegal guns off the street in one year

You will remain anonymous and may get up to $2,000

 

CRIME GUNSWORKING together, Crime Stoppers and local police forces today launched a major new campaign called “Cash for Guns” with the help of DDB Canada, Pattison Outdoor, Lamar Advertising, City of New Westminster and the ongoing support of Crime Stoppers by local media.

Firearms are involved in more than one quarter of murders committed, most often handguns. With this new program, Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, Vancouver Police Department, the RCMP and other local police forces want to give friends, acquaintances and loved ones a way to help save lives.

The goal of the campaign: get 500 or more of these weapons off the streets in the next year.

“People may personally know individuals with these guns, but because they’re close, they may think it’s too risky to speak out and do something about it. We’re giving them the way to get past that,” said Linda Annis, Executive Director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers. “Violent crime involving illegal guns is increasing at an alarming rate, and for every person carrying one of these weapons, someone else has information that could lead police to seizing these guns. Crime Stoppers is offering them a safe way to do the right thing.”

Starting this month, the campaign’s message will be seen on more than 300 billboards, digital boards and bus shelters around the region, will air in radio and TV spots, and will be featured during pre-show advertisements at local movie theatres. The ads will remind everyone that calling Crime Stoppers remains anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.

“We’re pleased to be able to support this campaign wholeheartedly by providing more than 120 billboard spaces and 200 transit shelters around the region to get the message out,” said Steve MacGregor, Vice President / General Manager – Pacific Region of Pattison Outdoor. “Crime Stoppers provides an invaluable service that helps police fight crime day in, and day out, for the benefit of everyone in the community. We’re proud to have the chance to be a key partner and contribute to this campaign.”

“The caller’s motivation doesn’t matter. All we want is the anonymous tip as to who has the guns, and how police might find how it might be found and seize them,” added Annis. “We want the public to know they do have a safe and anonymous way to protect a loved one, protect themselves, or to prevent a violent crime. It might even be to report on a rival gang member, or just to get the cash reward. Whatever the motivation, this campaign’s sole purpose is get information that will get these guns off the streets and prevent anyone one else from getting shot.”

“Cash for Guns” is supported by local police forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) E Division, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – BC, and the Canada Border Services Agency.

 

CRIME STOPPERS is a non-profit society and registered charity that receives anonymous tip information about criminal activity and provides it to investigators in communities. Tip information is provided to a wide variety of provincial, federal and international investigative agencies.

Citizens may witness all or part of a crime without being aware of the importance or value of what they have seen. As a result, they may unknowingly possess key information that could assist police in solving the crime or taking a criminal off the street.

Many times, citizens don’t want to get involved with police directly with a concern that they may have to go to court or provide information out of fear that if they reveal their identity they will expose themselves or their families to acts of retaliation by the criminal. Sometimes the public will not come forward with the information that they have and that law enforcement officials really need.

Crime Stoppers programs can be extremely beneficial as our organization is the middle relationship to ensure anonymity while at the same time passing the information forward to combat the ever-present crime problem.   Our program provides an effective opportunity for private citizens who can join together with law enforcement officials to solve crime without worry of reprisal.   Crime Stoppers serves as a chance for private citizens to relay criminal information to police and absolutely remain anonymous.

People can leave their anonymous tips in a variety of ways including downloading their information onto an iPad or iPhone app, calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, at www.solvecrime.ca, following the link on Crime Stoppers Facebook page, or texting a message to CRIMES (274637). Crime Stoppers accepts tips in 115 different languages.