**Acting sergeant Uwe opened the meeting at 6.30pm with 29 members/guests in attendance. Members and guests were informally welcomed by President Les.
**Nasser proposed a toast to front line workers in the Covid19 crisis.
**Bill won the raffle and heads and tails was won by Tracey Clouston. Andrew introduced the Silver Circle and from the draw was the initial winner of $50.00.
**Harold gave an update on the status of the STEM ROBOTICS project.
GUEST SPEAKERS………..Keith Knight and Tracey Clouston were introduced by David O’Dwyer. Both speakers have been involved with Crime Stoppers for a number of years.
History/Bckground………Crime stoppers is a world wide organisation that commenced in Mexico in 1987 where a murder case was difficult to solve and the police sought information from the public. That information was provided piece by piece hence the use of the jigsaw puzzle piece on Crime stoppers material.
The organisation is manned by volunteers and is unfunded. Income is through fund raising EG Bunnings sizzles…Bake Day at Bunnings…Local Grants…….Sale of ant theft prevention wallets. There are 53 Crime stopper chapters in Queensland.
Measuring effect of Crime stoppers is difficult as many reportings do not lead directly with an arrest………Should an arrest we made following a reporting and a guilty verdict is found through the courts a reward of $500 or $1000 is given
Like all volunteer organisations Crime Stoppers are always on the lookout for new members.
Crime Prevention………Tracey gave an insight to the status of criminal activity on the Gold Coast. With the number of unemployed through covid19 there could be expected and increase in petty stealing from homes and cars. The majority of break and enter are optimistic through the lack of security.
Always lock the front of your home……Keep your car locked.
Keep garage doors closed and locked. Especially when working in the backyard.
Report any suspicious activity to crime stoppers……Share information with the police.
Best Precaution……….Crime Stoppers are available to carryout a Home Security Audit. Highly recommended.
Current Crime Stoppers major projects……….Coppers on the Couch..This project takes Crime Stoppers to a number of locations to provide community awareness of the organisation. Many and various topics are covered and it is designed to present the police in a positive light……..
Save….is a project directed to school students and involves participation with all emergency services.Road safety lectures are included along with a graphic utube on road safety featuring the mother of a young man involved in the death of a friend.
Following the meeting Rotarians were generous with donations and the purchase of Crime Stoppers fund raising items.
