Our latest meeting’s speaker Aiden Bloomfield from Crime Stoppers spelt out the workings of this phone-in centre for anonymous callers. It operates independently from the police, to ensure that callers don’t fear to report suspicious activity. In contrast, direct calls to police are made through the 000 emergency line.
Last year more than 130,000 calls came in, enabling police to arrest 1200 suspects, lay 4000 charges, and secure convictions resulting in confiscation of about $5m in cash and property, and seizure of nearly $30m illegal drugs. Reports were up 15% on 2024.
“Crime Stoppers callers might have reasons to not involve police directly,” he said. “They might feel their suspicions are trivial or silly, but their information might well complete a jigsaw of material the police are working on.”
A caller might report that they have been renovating a house and found a hidden gun. “If you take it to the local police station, don’t wave it around there,” Aiden joked.
He mentioned that shoplifting is often reported anonymously – the main issue is not a petty theft but an organised group that ‘storms’ a retailer as one member creates distractions.
Another crime wave involves both car thefts and thefts from cars – 31,500 cars were stolen in Victoria in the year to March, often defeating car security or exploiting people who don’t properly secure their car. Police are lobbying car makers to make top security built-in rather than an ‘extra’.
One inhibitor to public safety is apathy – people imagining their call won’t make any difference, or the ‘by-stander’ effect where each of 100 witnesses thinks someone else will do the reporting.
“To reduce crime, get to know your neighbours and community, and let us know about anything going on around your residence that doesn’t seem right,” Aiden said.