Crime Stoppers of the South Cariboo volunteers not only promote and maintain its TIPS lines.
The local group also puts a significant effort into raising community safety awareness as well as funding for future program support.
President Marg Sarich notes the local group appreciates and is thankful to the people of the South Cariboo for their continued support.
They are especially grateful to Sgt. Don McLean, RCMP liaison, who has provided significant support to the local Crime Stoppers for many years.
“Const. Dan Ko is a very valuable addition to the group, too. We really appreciate what the detachment does do for us.”
However, Sarich emphasizes that Crime Stoppers operates at “arm’s length” from the police, due to the anonymous nature of the crime prevention program.
The anonymity of the tipster is the most important part of our program’s effectiveness, she explains.
While it has been “a very quiet year” at Crime Stoppers locally, Sarich says its crime prevention relies on the active people in the community who use the program, as well as the 100 Mile House RCMP members who work very hard to solve crime cases.
“We are trying to work proactively in the community, instead of reactively … after something happens.
“We use the opportunity when we are selling our 50/50 tickets, which is our major fundraiser, to share our brochures with people.”
These handouts range from how to protect your identity to how to protect your children on the Internet, as well as bicycle safety for the little ones, she explains.
Sarich says they also distribute Child Identification Kits, which are small identity passports for containing a child’s photograph, fingerprint, blood type and hair DNA sample.
“I also go out to service clubs and explain how you can collect a tip and remain anonymous.”
This offers another opportunity for Sarich and other Crime Stoppers volunteers to distribute brochures and further educate people in the community, including seniors being targeted by fraudsters, she adds.
This year’s 50/50 draw saw the $3,300 it raised split with winner Alex Wasylenko of Williams Lake in November, with each receiving $1,650.
“This year, we did also do a raffle by donation for a bench and a table.”
Sarich says no other fundraisers are planned for the spring this year.
“We will be doing a bicycle [safety] rodeo with the Free Press and Canlan in the spring.”
All the money raised is used to run the program and further support its local crime prevention work, including to pay the tipsters rewards for information provided to the anonymous 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) line.
