Anonymous Tips Save Lives

Last year, anonymous tips to Toronto Crime Stoppers (TCS) led to 494 charges being laid and the seizure of $644,000 in illegal drugs, 15 illegal firearms and 11 stolen vehicles.

“We stand together in our commitment to keeping our city safe and bringing criminals to justice,” Deputy Chief Rob Johnson said at the Crime Stoppers Month kick off at police headquarters on January 7. “Your tips can literally save lives.”

In 2024, Toronto police seized 717 crime guns.

“We know that these firearms can often be involved in multiple crimes,” Johnson said. “Gun violence is devastating families and communities and it needs to stop.”

At the kick off, TCS launched its Illegal Firearms Awareness campaign.

Until February 7, any information about an illegal firearm provided to and approved by TCS which leads to a seizure will be eligible for an Enhanced Cash Reward of $300.

“The Toronto Crime Stoppers team is ready to receive your tips and the police are ready to respond,” said Johnson.

Besides working to strengthen communities through several initiatives, TCS and Toronto Police collaborated on an Organized Retail Crime Awareness campaign to provide additional tools to fight against illegal activities, including smash and grab, boosting, fencing and return fraud.

The theme for Crime Stoppers Month 2025 is Your City. Your Safety. Your Call.

Toronto Police Service Board Chair Ann Morgan noted that TCS is a dynamic and ever-evolving program.

“Over the years, the program has worked to leverage technology to provide modernized methods of securely submitting tips,” she said. “In addition, the programming continuously changes to meet the shifting needs of our communities, recently focussing on gun crime, tracking down high-profile fugitives, addressing vehicle thefts and human trafficking among many other important and emerging areas of concern.”

TCS Chair Sean Sportun said the refreshed Illegal Firearm campaign aims to amplify the voices of community members and address threats posed by illegal firearms.

“Through continued awareness and education, we aim to empower individuals to anonymously report information about illegal firearms and other criminal activities,” he said. “The new awareness campaign features a selection of Out of Home and social media advertisements as well as radio public service announcements.”

In 2024, TCS managed over 29,000 anonymous tips which was a 32 percent increase over 2023.

“To put that in perspective, this translates to managing 80 anonymous tips every day or three tips per hour,” said Sportun. “Our continued success underscores the effectiveness of our program and the difference we are making. Crime knows no boundaries and neither does Toronto Crime Stoppers when it comes to preventing crime and identifying those who choose to create harm to our community. Looking ahead to 2025, we remain focussed on building this momentum with new initiatives and partnerships to secure the safety of our community’s future.”

TCS announced a new partnership with Lorex Technology.

“We are introducing the first-ever integration of a Crime Stoppers submit a tip feature within a security camera platform,” Sportun added. “This integration will help increase invaluable real-time anonymous tips, further strengthening our efforts to support investigations and enhance community safety.”

In the last year, TCS reinvested over $42,000 to support various community engagement initiatives through the Community Reward Program, developed strategic awareness campaigns to captivate public attention, sparked dialogue, highlighted critical crime challenges and released the third edition Captain Canuck Crime Stoppers comic book series featuring a storyline of Canada’s Most Wanted.

In addition, TCS partnership with the BOLO program continues to grow and achieve remarkable success.

TCS is celebrating its 41st anniversary this year.

In 2023, the program was recognized with several provincial awards.

They include the Best Video Feature on Global TVs Crime Beat Most Wanted, the Special project Award for The Organized Retail Crime initiative that went to GardaWorld, the Marla Moon Memorial Award of Excellence presented to GardaWorld and Global TV, the Community Service Award presented to Uber Toronto region and the Civilian Achievement Award that went to Sean Sportun to Uber Toronto.

Retired Staff Superintendent Gary Grant started the program that is the largest in Canada and one of the largest globally.

Crime Stoppers is the brainchild of Canadian-born Greg MacAleese, who was an officer with the Albuquerque Police Department in New Mexico. After running out of leads in a homicide investigation, the frustrated cop turned to the public for assistance in 1976.

He produced the first crime re-enactment that was aired on local television and made available to other media outlets and promised that anyone providing information leading to an arrest would be eligible for a cash reward.

Within hours of the broadcast, police received a tip that led to the arrest of two suspects who were charged with murder. They were sentenced to life terms with no chance of parole.

Toronto has one of the largest programs in the world. There are close to 1,300 Crime Stoppers programs in nearly 20 countries.