Crime Stoppers haul tops $15m
4 July 2005
ACT Policing's community assistance service Crime Stoppers reached an important milestone in early July, with $15 million in drugs seized as a result of public assistance since operations began.
Crime Stoppers started in December 1996 as a means of encouraging the public to provide anonymous calls to aid police intelligence-gathering. The $15 million mark was exceeded with the seizure of more than 120kg of hydroponically grown cannabis from a South Canberra residence in June.
"The role of Crime Stoppers inviting the community to assist in alerting police to suspicious or criminal behaviour has proved a marvellous asset," Chief Police Officer Audrey Fagan said. "Hundreds of crimes in the ACT have been prevented, and hundreds more criminals brought to justice as a result of vigilant members of the public providing tip-offs and anonymous information to Crime Stoppers."
Dr Jenny Fleming, Crime Stoppers' chairperson and community liaison representative, said the service allowed the public to become proactive by acting as the "eyes and ears" of the police.
"It has been a fruitful partnership between the community and the police which we aim to foster and grow in the years ahead," Dr Fleming said.
More than $350 000 in cash has been seized in the 8½ years of Crime Stoppers' operations, as well as almost $750 000 worth of proceeds-of-crime assets. One of the criminal assets seized recently was a $28 000 Subaru Impreza WRX turbo-charged sedan.
To date, cash rewards of nearly $15 000 have been paid for information.
"Through a simple telephone call to 1800 333 000, that smallest piece of information may prove vital to solving a major crime," Chief Police Officer Fagan added.
Tip-offs received by ACT Police have resulted in successes such as number of arrests for drug-related crimes, the recovery of stolen property, the location of missing persons and witnesses to accidents, the identification of sexual offenders, and the apprehension of escapers from the Symonston Temporary Remand Centre.
