A new ad campaign involving mock movie posters aims to silence gangsters in Metro Vancouver.
At a movie theatre in Surrey, the region鈥檚 Crime Stoppers chapter unveiled a new 鈥淕uns and Gangs鈥� initiative that encourages people to give anonymous tips about gang activity and other serious crimes.
The crime-fighting organization hopes the messages 鈥渇lip the script鈥� on crime by celebrating tipsters as 鈥渟tars鈥� of the narrative.
New posters feature the three storylines of 鈥淭he Gunman鈥檚 Barber鈥� (how a barber鈥檚 anonymous tip put a criminal behind bars), 鈥淭he Gang Member鈥檚 Gym Buddy鈥� (an anonymous tip led to a heavy sentence) and 鈥淭he Drug Dealer鈥檚 Neighbour鈥� (how one tip sent a criminal to jail).
The Saul Bass-style graphics will be displayed on restaurant and bar screens, billboards, and on bus and Skytrain overhead cards and transit shelters. Videos will be played before movies at local Landmark company theatres including the one in Guildford, where a launch event was held Wednesday (March 15).
Launched at a movie theatre, a new Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers campaign wants to silence gangsters.
鈥� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)
How new movie poster-style ads aim to 鈥榝lip the script鈥� on criminals:
The PS&Co campaign aims to reach people who know someone involved in illegal activities, or has key information, and wants to do the right thing, but won鈥檛 tell anyone for fear of reprisal.
The ads target girlfriends, boyfriends and partners of anyone involved in crime, parents and extended family, non-criminal friends and casual acquaintances such as servers, bartenders, valets and special entertainers.
Linda Annis, executive director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, says the organization had 鈥済reat success鈥� with three previous Guns and Gangs advertising campaigns in recent years, and hopes for the same in 2023.
鈥淪ince 2016, tips to Crime Stoppers are credited for 216 gun- and gang-related arrests, and the seizure of 313 illegal weapons,鈥� says Annis, also a Surrey city councillor.
鈥淎nyone can be a hero. We accept anonymous tips about any crime 24/7 and in 115 languages. We don鈥檛 want to know your identity or where you鈥檙e from, we just want information that can help police to solve crime.鈥�
, or call 1-800-222-8477.
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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