The Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers team is ready to mark its 30th anniversary this year with another milestone.
Coordinator David Bakker says they're close to surpassing the $100-million mark in recovered drugs and stolen property this year.
"When the program started in 1987, I don't think they anticipated it would be as successful as it is," says Bakker. "To almost be at $100-million in recovered stolen property and drugs -- that's amazing for 30 years of work in a community the size of Chatham-Kent."
Since 1987, Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers has recovered $89,834,261 in drugs and $9,885,054 in stolen property for a grand total of $99,716,315.
Bakker says in 2016 alone, they received 647 calls or tips from the public.
"As a result, 249 charges were laid by police -- clearing 143 cases," says Bakker. "We recovered almost $2.1-million in drugs and stolen property."
What makes the program even more remarkable, is that it doesn't receive any government funding.
"Crime Stoppers is not a police program, it is a program that's run by community members," says Bakker. "The board oversees the operation of the program, they're the ones who raise the funds... and they're the ones that pay the tipsters."
To mark Crime Stoppers month, the organization will be hosting two free skates.
They are as follows:
- Sunday, January 8 from 1pm - 2:30pm at the Thames Campus Arena in Chatham.
- Sunday, January 15 from 1pm - 2:30pm at the Tilbury Arena.
