Pubdate: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 Source: Calgary 24 Hours (CN AB) Copyright: 2009 Sun Media Corporation Contact: http://24hrs.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4976 DRUG SEIZURES UP, SAY POLICE 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 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 anonymoustipsfromJanuary to September this year totalling 2,860, significantly higher than 2008 calls of 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 criminal arrests including gang-related ones, said Staff Sgt. Colin Chisholm. "We have been saying for quite some time that we need the assistance and support of the community to help make Calgary even safer and the public appear to be responding to that call and stepping up to the place," said 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." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake