7-Eleven helps fight crime

Photo: Contributed

A national convenience store is doing its part to fight crime.

Donation canisters will be available on all 7-Eleven Canada front counters through January and February, offering customers the opportunity to support Crime Stoppers programs across the country.

7-Eleven Canada and Crime Stoppers in Canada have a maintained a long-standing partnership in fostering safer communities.

Since 2004, 7-Eleven Canada customers have donated more than $500,000 to support Crime Stoppers programs across the country.

“These funds are used to ensure the Crime Stoppers 24/7 anonymous tip line is available for use by all citizens,” said Roger Knox, president of the North Okanagan-Shuswap Crime Stoppers Society, which covers an area from Lumby to Sicamous.

Crime Stoppers is a volunteer-run program to support safe communities in Canada.

The Crime Stoppers' board of directors is drawn from citizens in the community and the board monitors local Crime Stoppers administrative activities, solicits and controls funding and determines reward payouts for successful Crime Stopper tips.

Municipal police and the RCMP work co-operatively to manage Crime Stoppers policing issues.

Crime Stoppers allows citizens to anonymously supply investigators with information about a crime or potential crime for which they have knowledge without fear of reprisal.

When a citizen becomes aware of criminal activity, he/she can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 from anywhere in Canada and report what they know.

Tipsters can also provide information online through an encrypted tip taking system.

Tipsters who contact Crime Stoppers are never identified. They never have to give a name or phone number and they never have to testify in court.

Tipsters could receive a cash reward of up to $2,000 upon an arrest and charge. Crime Stoppers is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.