Crimestoppers' Constable Mark Poppe
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ShareCrime Stoppers cash box stolen, recovered
By Roszan Holmen - Saanich News
Published: November 17, 2008 3:00 PM
Updated: November 18, 2008 9:58 AM
In a cheeky move, a suspect stole a Crime Stoppers box from a 7-Eleven food store last Thursday.
"We get the poppy boxes (stolen) and other donation boxes, but never the Crime Stoppers one," said Mark Poppe, a Saanich police officer and coordinator for Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers.
An employee reported the crime to the Saanich police just after midnight. The employee gave a description of the male suspect and his vehicle, a late 1990s red Pontiac sedan.
Police later found the car parked on Larchwood Drive at Blair Avenue. Officers arrested the two people inside, searched the car and found the donation box.
The two suspects, Victoria men aged 22 and 45, were released on a promise to appear in court. Both have a history with police.
Crime Stoppers donation boxes are in all 7-Eleven stores across the province. Annually, they collect roughly $7,000, money that funds phone calls from tipsters.
"(The donation boxes) go a long way just to raise awareness," said Poppe.
rholmen@saanichnews.com
Crime Stoppers quick facts
As of September, Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers received 375 tips in 2008. These tips led to 12 arrests and seven cases cleared. They also led to $130,000 worth or property recovered and $3 million worth of drugs seized. So far this year, the program's paid $3,925 in rewards.
