Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers Launches #WorldWithoutCrime

Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers is launching a multi-platform awareness campaign to reinforce the message that individuals can play a crucial role in fighting crime and help make their communities safer.

Using social media hashtags #WorldWithoutCrime, #WorldWithoutGangs and #WorldWithoutIllegalGuns, the campaign takes an unusually lighthearted approach to the very serious issues of gang activity and gun violence in British Columbia by showing what life might look like without crime.

“We want to reach out to people who may know individuals committing criminal activity — relatives, friends, people in the hospitality industry, and even rival gangs. We want to remind them if they suspect gang activity, possession of illegal guns or other crimes are taking place they can report it safely and anonymously,” says Linda Annis, Executive Director, Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers. “Crime Stoppers has been a household name for decades but we want to connect with a new generation who may not know how our organization works.”

The province-wide campaign will reach people through more than 500 billboards and bus shelters as well as washroom posters, digital advertising in restaurants and bars, and eventually public service announcements on radio and television. There will also be an extensive social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Tips to Crime Stoppers can not only be provided by phone but through a secure server, texts, or free mobile apps.

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Crime Stoppers is not the police. Tips from the public are passed on to authorities to investigate. They don’t record phone calls, log IP addresses and they don’t need to know your name. Tipsters are provided with a code number and if their information results in a charge, arrest, the seizure of stolen property or illegal weapons, or the denial of a fraudulent insurance claim, a reward of up to $2000 may be offered.

About Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers

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.

Crime Stoppers provides an effective opportunity for private citizens who can join together with law enforcement officials to solve crime without worry of reprisal. It 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.

» Download the app for iPhone
» Download the app for Android