EDMONTON – The resource that allows you to report a crime and remain anonymous is in jeopardy.
Every two weeks, Crime Stoppers creates a new re-enactment, asking for tips to solve a crime. But now the videos, the tip lines, and the rewards that have made the charitable organization so well-known may be on the line due to financial difficulties.
The organization gets no taxpayers dollars; virtually all its revenue comes from donations, which are drying up.
“We just aren’t bringing in those money right now,” says Ambere Rosborough. “The future is looking quite bleak, actually. We have about three months of operating dollars left.”
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After that time is up, Crime Stoppers in northern Alberta could be no more. It’s already a lean operation, with two staff, one of whom is now part time.
Last year, Crime Stoppers’ efforts generated 7,000 tips – many of which paid off. It is the number one tip source used to shut down marijuana grow ops. The Internet Child Exploitation Unit, ALERT, even national security teams rely on Crime Stoppers tips.
The ramifications of losing Crime Stoppers concern Rosbourough, as it would mean no tips would be anonymous anymore.
“Without us, basically everyone has to become a witness, which means information flowing to our law enforcement partners is going to diminish significantly – significantly.”
Police are also worried.
“Without the citizens’ involvement,” says Cst. Wayne Nay with EPS, “sometimes our hands our tied. We just don’t have the information. This is a good source for citizens to come forward and say – ‘hey, I know this.”
Rosborough believes there’s still time for donors, though, and is also pushing for stable funding from the province.
“If I had base funding of $250,000 per year – that’s very basic – I could do so much with that,” she says.
For more, make sure to tune into the Global Morning News just after 7 a.m. on Wednesday as Crime Stoppers Board President, Scott Matheson, joins us live.
With files from Fletcher Kent, Global News
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