Pubdate: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2009 The Calgary Sun Contact: http://www.calgarysun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67 Author: Renato Gandia TIPS LEADING TO MORE DRUG SEIZURES IN CALGARY Drug seizures in Calgary have dramatically increased this year with net totals jumping from merely a couple of million dollars to about $14.5 million as cops see a spike in anonymous tips. As of September 2008, police seized more than $2.3 million worth of drugs, but so far this year that soared more than six times. Police attribute the increases to larger call volumes to Calgary's Crime Stoppers, which received 136 more anonymous tips from January to September this year totalling 2,860, significantly higher than 2008's number of calls, which totalled 2,724. The increased number of Crime Stoppers re-enactments, including high-profile cases, has also led to the spike in calls, which helped in 76 arrests including gang-related ones, said Staff Sgt. Colin Chisholm. "I firmly believe that the city is safer thanks to those that have picked up the phone or visited the Crime Stoppers website to provide a tip," he said. Calls this year cleared 131 cases, netted 239 charges, and recovered $30,635 worth of stolen property. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D