People driving past the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre may notice a new flag blowing in the breeze.
The Crime Stoppers Flag was raised on Friday to mark National Crime Stoppers Month.
"We are still finalizing the total number of anonymous tips received in 2025, but we already know we were on track for another strong year," said Erica McIntosh, Crime Stoppers Program Coordinator. "What really stood out to us was the improving quality of the tips we received. Community members are providing more of the key details police need, including the who, what, when, where, and how."
The flag-raising also marks the start of another year for the local organization, which will differ from previous years.
Instead of the usual Crime of the Week format, they've launched what they're calling a Crime Stoppers Community Update, which will allow them to provide more timely information.
"We have identified several priority topics that directly impact our community, including auto theft mitigation, illegal firearms awareness, and break and enter prevention," added McIntosh. "We will be running focused campaigns on each of these issues throughout the year to provide practical information that people can use to reduce risk and protect themselves."
Since 1987, when the Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers was launched, the organization has received around 20,000 anonymous tips.
