870 Tips Reported by Public on NGO Hotline Leads to 216 Arrests
According to a February 2016 report
released by the U.S. Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), 149
murders were recorded in The Bahamas last year, making 2015 the
deadliest year in the history of the country.
Whether rape, armed robbery or home invasions, the escalating rate of
violent crime in The Bahamas—up 22 percent since 2014—is nothing short
of frightening.
“There must be a concerted effort placed on building relationships between the community, media and law enforcement,” said
Marisa Ahwai, Chairman of
Crime Stoppers Bahamas,
a
civilian organization under the umbrella of
Crime Stoppers International which offers monetary rewards for
anonymous tips about suspicious activity in the community. “Forensic
science and investigative skills are an integral part of solving crimes,
but information from the public is one of the most
crucial elements of the investigative process.”
According to the OSAC report, while
residential security remains a pronounced concern in light of such
alarming statistics, a combination of residential alarms, security gates
on windows, neighborhood watches
and roving security patrols have proven an effective deterrent.
“If we all start minding our neighbour’s
business and reporting anything suspicious to Crime Stoppers, we can
further reduce property crime,” Ahwai said.
In the nearly 15 years since Crime Stoppers Bahamas was established, the
community action organization
has helped lead police to 216 arrests, assisted in clearing
856
cases in the process and recovering more than $450,000 in property.
Moreover,
$676,000 worth of narcotics have been seized, all as a result of
information provided by concerned Bahamians, with a few persons
requesting cash rewards to date.
“The Crime Stoppers
hotline provides a way for people to expose crime of any kind with no fear of
being identified,” the chairman said, adding that all incoming voice calls are answered in the U.S. or Canada.
The NGO plans to launch an app for smart phones in the
near future.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for people to report wrongdoings,” Ahwai said. “Our
goal is to rid The Bahamas of the scourge of crime and
violence so that residents and visitors alike can feel free to walk
about day and night and enjoy our beautiful Bahama land.
We urge residents to step up and help Stop the Crime Before It’s Your Time!”
Crime Stoppers Bahamas
is a civilian organization under the umbrella
of
Crime Stoppers International
,
a worldwide organization devoted to reducing crime. Using anonymous
tips provided by the public, Crime Stoppers
assists authorities in uncovering fraud, solving crimes and exposing
all forms of abuse. To report a crime or suspicious activity text or
call 328.TIPS (8477) in Nassau or toll free at (242) 300-TIPS (8477) in
the family islands