Crime Stoppers Update and Shred Event

Champaign County Crime Stoppers has a Shred Event going on this morning by the State Farm Center (formerly the Assembly Hall). From the News-Gazette earlier this month:

Document-shredding/drug drop-off event set May 18 near State Farm Center
With the help of Triad Shredding, Crime Stoppers will shred up to two banker's boxes worth of documents, but the organization is asking for a $5 donation to pay rewards for future tips.

Examples of acceptable documents are medical records, financial statements, credit applications, bank statements, documents with Social Security or driver-license numbers, bank checks, tax records, and legal documents over 8 years old.

At the same drop-off site, folks may bring in potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs in the form of pills and patches. The DEA officials cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps.

The service is free and intended to keep unused medication from falling into the wrong hands and avoid health hazards caused when drugs are flushed or buried in landfills. No questions will be asked of the people dropping off drugs.

Full blurb here. More information at the Crime Stoppers website here. Crime Stoppers is also looking for ideas for fundraising to help it continue its Gun Bounty program that helps solve gun related crimes. WCCU had more on that with a video segment here. Excerpt:

A total of 10 handguns, two shotguns and a semi-automatic rifle were recovered as a result of the tips given to the Champaign County Crime Stoppers.

The tips were accumulated over a span of three-and-a-half month trial period for its new Gun Bounty Reward Program.

Officials said the pilot program ran from January 10 to April 26 of this year.

The program showed a 467% increase in recovered guns over the same period last year.

That article and video segment here. The News-Gazette had a blurb asking for help with fundraising, fundraising ideas, and tips:

Hecker said Crime Stoppers has a couple fundraising ideas, but he declined to share them. Last year, the group gave out $9,800 in rewards.

Crime Stoppers gets money from court fees, fundraisers and donations.

If you want to help out, or to submit a tip anonymously, head online to 373tips.com.

The full blurb available here. Crime Stoppers is also looking for nominations for its Dave Benton Crime Fighter Award before the June 1st deadline. From WCIA:

The Dave Benton Crime Fighter Award is an annual award established by Crime Stoppers of Champaign County in honor of former board member and WCIA-TV anchor Dave Benton. Each year this award recognizes the Champaign County citizen who most exemplifies the crime-fighting spirit that Dave Benton exhibits during his award-winning newscasts, programs and his tenure on the Crime Stopper’s Board of Directors.

Nominations are open to all residents of Champaign County. The intent is to recognize an individual who has made a difference in the fight against crime. The recipient must have been involved in an onoing activity or program that helped to stop a crime, solve a case, or made a big difference in resolving a dangerous situation that made a neighborhood, community or the whole of Champaign County safer. Criteria for nominations are very general in order to avoid limiting the kinds of activities that would qualify and maintain a broad appeal to all citizens.

Full article here with more details. More on the award and nomination process from the Crime Stoppers website here.