Behind the Tips: How Crime Stoppers of Halton Helps Keep the Region Safe

By: Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Burlington Local-News.ca

Crime Stoppers of Halton continues to play a quiet but significant role in helping police solve crimes across the region, relying on anonymous tips from residents who see or know something and choose to speak up. Crime Stoppers of Halton has been operating in the region for 38 years.

According to Colin Jessome, executive director of Crime Stoppers of Halton, the program receives approximately 100 to 300 tips each month from concerned community members. These tips range from information about known crimes, where the public is asked to help identify suspects, to reports of suspicious activity that may require further attention from Halton Regional Police Service. Jessome emphasizes that every tip matters, even if it does not lead to immediate action, as investigations often take time and unfold over months or even years.

In 2025 alone, public tips led to a combined total of 90 case closures, arrests, and charges laid. While some investigations are resolved quickly, others remain ongoing due to the complexity and nature of the crimes involved. Jessome notes that patience is often required, but the information provided by the public is frequently a crucial missing piece.

Crime Stoppers of Halton receives tips related to a wide range of offences, and the organization encourages residents to report any information they believe may be relevant. The most successful tips tend to involve auto thefts, residential and commercial break-ins, trafficking of illegal drugs, and human trafficking. Over the years, anonymous information has helped advance or close serious cases, including murder investigations, opioid trafficking operations, and organized auto theft rings. Due to the program’s commitment to anonymity, Crime Stoppers is careful not to publicly identify specific cases that were solved directly as a result of a tip.

Jessome says tip volume has remained consistent since the program’s inception, a testament to the community’s ongoing trust in the service. However, Crime Stoppers of Halton continues to encourage more residents to come forward, reminding the public that tips can be submitted anonymously by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or through the organization’s secure website at haltoncrimestoppers.ca. Tipsters are eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest, with guaranteed anonymity.

At present, there is only one individual listed on Halton’s Most Wanted list. Matthew Flannigan has been wanted since an incident that occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, July 22, 2023. Halton Regional Police stopped Flannigan on Plains Road East in Burlington, where officers formed grounds to arrest him under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. A violent struggle followed, during which an officer sustained a broken leg. Flannigan fled the scene at a high rate of speed and remains at large.

The public is urged to submit any information related to Flannigan or other criminal activity through Crime Stoppers. Tips can be provided 24 hours a day, are never traced or recorded, and are submitted through secure and encrypted systems. Jessome stresses that anonymity is the cornerstone of the program, allowing residents to contribute to community safety without fear of retaliation. 

Upon submitting a tip, individuals are provided with a unique code and password, which serves as the only way to identify their submission without revealing any personal information. Through the P3 Tips online portal, tipsters can securely log in to check for updates or add additional details to their original report. Tips can also be monitored by calling the 24-hour tip line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). The online system allows for secure, encrypted two-way communication, giving Crime Stoppers coordinators the ability to request further information or provide updates, including details related to potential cash rewards.

“If you see something or know something, we want to hear from you,” he said.