By Ron Fanfair

Last year, Toronto Crime Stoppers (TCS) received 7,186 tips that resulted in 67 arrests, 250 charges and $145,000 in property seized and over $2.1 million in illegal narcotics taken off the streets.

Tips also assisted investigators in solving four homicides and the seizure of six illegal firearms.

TCS is a partnership involving the police, the community and the media that enables concerned members of the public to anonymously provide information on the identity of a criminal or on incidents of criminal activity.

At the Crime Stoppers Month launch at police headquarters on January 5, Chief James Ramer thanked TCS for their continued dedication in helping to solve violent and dangerous crimes.

A partnership with the BOLO campaign led to the apprehension of T’Quan Robertson who was wanted for the shooting of two young girls in a Scarborough playground in 2018 and Alexander Fountain who was wanted for a fatal shooting four years ago.

Last October, Robertson pled guilty to attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

“On behalf of the Service, I want to thank Crime Stoppers for their partnership that has helped solve cases and continues to support our efforts in protecting the public and keeping our communities safe,” Ramer pointed out.

TCS Board Chair Sean Sportun said the organization had a remarkable year generating the same amount of tips during a global pandemic even without paying out rewards.

“We must all work together with a collaborative goal to make a difference in the prevention of crime while enhancing the overall safety of our community,” he said. “Toronto Crime Stoppers is committed in our efforts to mobilize the community to ‘See it. Say it. Stop it’ for a safer Toronto. Doing the right thing truly is its own reward.”

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sportun said his organization was challenged last year.

“Like most, we were forced to adapt to the environment and make a shift in how we operated to maintain community engagement,” he said. “Our commitment to community safety with a focus on crime prevention remained as always the priority to the foundation of what we do at Crime Stoppers. And our collective hard work continues to have an impact on helping combat criminal activity in the city of Toronto.”

In addition to collecting tips, Crime Stoppers is heavily engaged in the community creating awareness.

Sportun said they continue to find creative ways to generate awareness and stay connected with the community with the See It, Say It, Stop It  podcasts and educational public service videos, funded by Petro Canada, are now being rolled out.

“The videos are intended to draw attention to the seriousness of bullying and to educate students about the role that Crime Stoppers plays in helping all communities stay safe, including their own community,” he said.

Sportun said some of the projects they are working on include the Hoddies4The Homeless initiative with their partners Moe Minds which is expected to be deployed later this month and the production of the second edition of Captain Canuck Crime Stoppers comic book by Chapter House Publishing.

In 2020, TCS collaborated with Humber College to sponsor a scholarship presented to a second-year student in the Protection, Security & Investigation program.

Anyone with information about a crime that has occurred, or about to happen, can make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at  222tips.com.