MORE than 600 anonymous tips about gang-related activities and illegal weapons were among the almost 5,000 tips given to Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers last year, according to its 2021 statistics just released.
“Collectively, these anonymous tips led to arrests and the recovery of property, guns and illegal drugs, all of which might never have happened otherwise,” said Linda Annis, Executive Director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, on Thursday.
“With the spike last year in gang-related activity in the Lower Mainland, plus a recent trend toward crimes like robbery and vandalism, Crime Stoppers is urging local residents to continue submitting information anonymously to help police investigate, make more arrests and even save lives.”
Statistics for 2021 – published by Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers in its annual Impact Report:
* Total number of tips 2021 – All crimes: 4,741
* Property and illicit drugs seized (from tips): $2.29 million including eight vehicles
(cumulative: more than $23 million since 2017)
* Number of arrests: 54
* Charges laid: 96
* Tips about gangs and illegal weapons: 2021
* Total tips about gang activity: 215
* Number of tips related specifically to illegal guns: 403
* Number of illegal weapons seized: 32
* Charges laid: 12
Since the inception of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers 38 years ago, more than 8,200 arrests have been made, and half-a-billion dollars in property and drugs have been recovered.
Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers is a non-profit society and registered charity that offers rewards for anonymous tip information about criminal activity and provides it to investigators in the communities of Metro Vancouver.
Anonymous tips may be provided though Crime Stoppers’ downloadable “P3” app for Apple and Android phones, calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, 1-855-448-8477 (new number), online at solvecrime.ca or by following the link on the Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers Facebook page. Find MVCS on Twitter: @solvecrime and Instagram: @metrovancouvercrimestoppers.
Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers accepts tips in 115 different languages and will pay a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of a criminal, recovery of stolen property, seizure of illegal drugs or guns or denial of a fraudulent insurance claim. Tipsters stay anonymous by using code numbers to check back later and collect their rewards.
