As part of the Queensland Police Service commitment to combating serious and violent crime on the Gold Coast, the QPS is calling on the community to unite and be the eyes and ears to assist police in shutting down armed robberies.

The QPS has a strong partnership with the community organisation Crime Stoppers Queensland and will again join forces to launch ‘Dob in a Robber’, a South East Region phone operation next Wednesday, June 22, 2011.

The campaign will specifically target robbery style offences and offenders operating in the community. The QPS is seeking to utilise the strength and vigilance of the community to prevent these serious crimes continuing. The community is called upon to unite, stand up, speak up and report any suspicious behaviour and activity specifically relating to robbery offences and offenders.

State Crime Operations Command Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon said for every one of these armed robberies committed, someone in our community knows who is responsible.

“The partnership we have with Crime Stoppers Queensland is vital to police. We rely heavily on information supplied by the public through the Crime Stoppers program to help us target these offenders. This year to date information provided through Crime Stoppers has helped police arrest seven people for armed robbery; 506 since Crime Stoppers Queensland began in 1989. This call to the community has proved to be successful in the past and I am sure it will continue into the future.

“State Crime Operations Command provides specialist state-wide support and is working with South East Region to solve violent and serious crimes. These offenders are a danger to society and we are committed to prosecuting those responsible and taking them off our streets,” Assistant Commissioner Condon said.

South Eastern Police Region Assistant Commissioner Paul Wilson said since the tragic death of local police officer Detective Senior Constable Damian Leeding the outpouring of community support for police has been overwhelming and ‘Dob in a Robber’ is another way the community can get behind their police.

“’Dob in a robber’ is a positive way the community can take a stance against these violent offences that affect us all.  Even the smallest piece of information could be the link in the chain that leads to an arrest of an offender or solving of a crime,” said Assistant Commissioner Wilson.

Call to action Wednesday, June 22, 2011:

• Calls to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.
• Callers may leave their confidential details with Crime Stoppers should they wish a Detective to contact them back directly.
• Crime Stoppers pays Rewards of up to $1,000 for information which leads to the arrest of an offender.

Members of the public are encouraged to continue to call Crime Stoppers and to keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviour from people in the community.

Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1 800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.