By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers is looking at new ways to communicate in 2026, but the goal of preventing crime and nabbing criminals remains the same.
The non-profit has announced it plans on moving away from its traditional “Crime of the Week” approach by transitioning to a new C-K Crime Stoppers Community Update. According to vice-president Bill Isaacs, the agency is also looking at boosting crime prevention through increased outreach programming.
“We’re looking at some high-priority topics to help stop people from becoming victims of crime,” said Isaacs, noting mitigating the risk of auto theft; illegal firearms awareness and break and enter prevention are some of the topics to be addressed in the coming year.
January is Crime Stoppers Awareness Month and this year’s Canada-wide theme is “Safe Streets, Strong Communities – Together We Can Stop Crime.” The C-K chapter held a flag raising at the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre Jan. 2 to mark the occasion.
Isaacs, a member of the Crime Stoppers 12-member volunteer board, said the organization had a “good year” in 2025, receiving an estimated 500 tips, although final statistics have yet to be compiled.
“We’re quite proud of what we achieved,” Isaacs said, adding the agency paid out around $2,000 in rewards over the course of the year. It also held a successful Children’s Safety Expo and a sold-out annual golf tournament, the proceeds from which help fund the anonymous rewards tip line.
As for tips coming in from the public, Isaacs said the quality of the tips is getting better, stressing the entire process remains strictly anonymous.
“The public is becoming more skilled on reporting and that’s really impressed us in the last little while,” he said. “People are making sure they are getting all the details on the who, what, when, where, and how. We don’t need to know who you are – we just need to know what you know.”
“If you know of something going on, do the right thing and share it,” he said, adding if the tip leads to an arrest or conviction you might be eligible for a cash reward.
Operating in the municipality since 1987, Crime Stoppers Chatham-Kent has handled 20,000 anonymous tips since its inception. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Crime Stoppers concept following its origins in 1976 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Similar projects now operate around the world.
Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers runs on community fundraising and donations. Financial rewards for tips are paid out in a no questions asked process that’s entirely confidential.
For more information about programs or to leave a tip visit ckcrimestoppers.ca or @CKCrimeStoppers on social media. The phone number is 1-800-222-TIPS. Online reporting forms are available.
