Crime Stoppers paused: how to give police a tip now
Crime Stoppers is paused in Windsor, LaSalle and by the OPP after a breach exposed more than 1.5 million tips across Canada. In Windsor, tips can go to police directly at 519-258-6111. Emergency? Call 911.
Topics: Public safety
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Police in Windsor-Essex are asking people to bring tips straight to them while Crime Stoppers is on pause after a data breach.
What happened
A breach at the company that runs the tip platform used by Crime Stoppers programs across Canada exposed more than 1.5 million tips. The Windsor Police Service paused its participation in Crime Stoppers on Oct. 22, 2026, and said the breach did not affect its own internal systems.
LaSalle Police Service has also halted its partnership with Crime Stoppers, and the Ontario Provincial Police says it is pausing its promotion of the program while the impact of the breach is assessed.
What it means for you
If you have information about a crime or a public safety concern:
In Windsor, call Windsor Police at 519-258-6111 for non-emergencies, or report online at windsorpolice.ca.
Elsewhere in Essex County, contact your local police service's non-emergency line.
In OPP-policed areas, the OPP says to use its non-emergency reporting options at opp.ca.
In an emergency, call 911.
Windsor Police said it will reassess its partnership with Crime Stoppers once appropriate safeguards and security measures are in place.
