Crime Stoppers in Action – January
January was National Human Trafficking Awareness month and organizations all around the U.S. took action to increase awareness about modern-day slavery. The staggering facts that 20% of human trafficking victims in the U.S. travel through Texas along the I-10 corridor and 50% of victims in the U.S. are children put it beyond debate that we cannot just ignore our country’s second largest criminal industry.
Crime Stoppers joined in this nationwide initiative to spread the word about human trafficking. We educated our community about misconceptions and ways to protect yourself and others (the insights and tips as well as informative blog entries are still available online at www.crime-stoppers.org). Additionally, we highlighted human trafficking fugitives wanted in Harris County.
January was also a big month for our anti-animal cruelty engagement. Together with the Houston Humane Society, Houston PetSet, the Houston Police Department, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, and Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 5, we were proud to announce a newly formed task force on January 15. Monty’s Task Force aims at ending the abuse, neglect and cruel treatment of horses, specifically in the Acre’s Homes and surrounding areas (click here more information).
Just 3 days later, we held a press conference including the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Harris County Constable Precinct 5, Houston Humane Society and Pet Paradise to ask for the public’s help in tracking down a suspect who abandoned two badly-injured puppies (watch here).
January 19 through 22, we partnered with the Harris County Sheriffs’ Office Warrants Division for an animal cruelty fugitive sweep with the very successful results of 11 felony warrant and 25 misdemeanor warrant arrested, 11 felony warrants and 37 misdemeanor warrants cleared and 1 new misdemeanor charge filed. At the end of the month we joined a Houston Humane Society event as part of Monty’s Task Force to share crucial animal safety information.
At the same time, we diligently reached out to students all around Houston to educate them on how to stay safe on campus, including internet safety, bullying and human trafficking prevention. We talked to students at YES Prep Hoffman, Houston Gateway Academy Evergreen and Lovett Elementary (pictured on the left Lovett Elementary’s “media team” which video taped our entire Safe School presentation and even interviewed us at the end!)
Safe community program managers joined Sheriff Ron Hickman and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for a captive discussion about community issues, including the new Open Carry Law (Read more about the law here). In response to a recent study’s findings that 53% of 6 year old’s have a cell phone, Crime Stoppers Executive Director Rania Mankarious talked to Tiffany Craig with KHOU 11 about the mobile safety for young kids.
At the end of January, we shared some important Valentine’s Day safety tips in an interview with Anoushah Rasta on KPRC2 and KPRC2 and contributed to The Buzz Magazines with the first of a series of blogs: Sunday Mornings with Rania: Homelessness in Houston.
Detailed numbers on our Tip Line Program are stated below:
During the month of January, the Crime Stoppers of Houston Tip Line:
- Received 616 tips
- 6 tips – Solved felony cases
- 44 tips – Executed felony warrants
- Arrested 41 suspects
- Solved/executed 50 cases
- Cleared 40 offense reports
- Paid 44 anonymous informants
During the month of January, the Safe School Program:
- Solved 6 school – based cases
- Visited 11 Schools
- Held 19 Safe School presentations
- Trained 1,758 students
Posted by on 26 Jan 2016