![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/crime-scene-tape.jpg\" "\\"crime")
<\/a>In an effort to generate tips on unsolved cases, including the 14 homicides which have occurred within the city limits of Fort Myers since January, Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is blanketing a high crime neighborhood, so that every resident knows there is a safe and secure way to help police stop the violence.<\/p>\nThis afternoon, more than 8,000 fliers are being delivered to the US Post Office at Page Field, which will blanket the 33916 zip code \u2013 a part of the city where a prevalent percentage of crime is taking place.\u00a0 The fliers spell out in no uncertain terms that people who call Crime Stoppers remain completely anonymous and should have no fear of retaliation.\u00a0 The fliers also encourage residents to provide anonymous tips on any unsolved crime, but especially the homicides which have occurred in the first six months of 2012.\u00a0 The names of each of this year\u2019s murder victims within the city are prominently placed on the flier, so that residents can be reminded that there are still killers at large, and families who deserve closure.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been so much attention in recent weeks from residents who continue to say \u2018stop the violence,\u2019 however very few are providing those anonymous tips with information that they have on these unsolved crimes.\u00a0 With each one of these extreme acts of violence, we know there are people in the community who know what happened, who\u2019s responsible and why the crimes occurred,\u201d said Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers Coordinator.\u00a0 \u201cLaw enforcement needs the public\u2019s help in solving these crimes and removing the violent element from our neighborhoods.\u00a0 By putting a Crime Stoppers flier in every mailbox in that zip code, residents will have no excuse that they didn\u2019t know there was a safe avenue to do the right thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Working to stem the outburst of violent crimes has been an on-going partnership between Crime Stoppers and all local law enforcement agencies, including the Fort Myers Police Department, which has been faced with the largest number of homicides this year.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe are grateful for our partnership with Crime Stoppers. The mailer will hopefully reinforce community participation through anonymous tips and serve as reminder that citizen involvement is vital in making our communities safer,\u201d according to Fort Myers Police Chief Doug Baker.<\/p>\n
With the assistance of the United States Postal Service, the fliers should reach every mailbox in the 33916 zip code on Saturday.\u00a0 Additional direct mail campaigns are planned for the very near future in other high crime areas of Southwest Florida.<\/p>\n
As always, anyone with information on an unsolved crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).\u00a0 All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.\u00a0 Tips may also be made online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org<\/a> or by texting a tip to CRIMES (274637) Keyword: REWARD.\u00a0 No calls are ever recorded or traced, and no names or identifying information on callers are ever taken.\u00a0 All callers are given a code number, which is the only way they are identified, and if their information leads to an arrest, the tipsters pick up their rewards in cash at a banking institution that\u2019s convenient for them.\u00a0 It\u2019s that simple, it\u2019s that safe, and \u2013 when people choose to make that call \u2013 it\u2019s that effective.<\/p>\n