Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington (CSGW) released their annual statistics, and 2023 was an outstanding year for anonymous and confidential crime reporting.
The total number of tips received by the program increased more than 39% from the previous year to 658. These tips assisted in investigations where $247,403 in personal property and cash was recovered and $1,130,869 in drugs recovered for a total recovery of $1,378,272. This is an overall increase in recovered drugs, personal property and cash of 1,170%.
In 2023, 14 cases cleared, which resulted in 17 arrests and 101 charges being laid. It also resulted in the CSGW Board of Directors approving $4,945 in rewards to Tipsters.
“It is exciting to see how successful the program has been in 2023,” said CSGW Board Chair Dave Elloway. “The Board of Directors is aware of the volume of tips each month, but to see the accumulative impact is truly remarkable. Crime Stoppers IS making a difference in the City of Guelph and County of Wellington by anonymously providing information to make our community safer. Guelph and Wellington County residents can safely Say It Here.”
“These statistics would not be possible without the assistance of our investigative partners, including Wellington County OPP and Guelph Police Service,” said Sarah Bowers-Peter, Program Coordinator of CSGW, “and most importantly, without the assistance of the brave Tipsters who come forward anonymously and confidentially. Without them, we know that 14 cases would be unsolved, 17 individuals would not have been arrested and no charges would be laid.”
She continued, saying that all tips to CSGW are forwarded to investigators and that no tip is too small.
“If you’ve been considering contacting Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington, there is no better time,” said Bowers-Peter.
The annual statistics for CSGW are released each January during Crime Stoppers month. As Crime Stoppers is unable to disclose which cases tips are utilized in, the statistics are the best measure of success for the program that can be shared publicly.
