Intake of Crime Stoppers tips in Toronto, surrounding areas paused after data breach

Toronto Crime Stoppers has temporarily halted the acceptance of tips following a data breach that exposed over 175,000 tips and nearly 15,000 names, according to the organization. The incident occurred in March, affecting tips submitted to the program since January 2022. The breach, which was initially downplayed by the data breach company Navigate360, has prompted at least two other police forces in the Greater Toronto Area to suspend their partnerships with Crime Stoppers.

Toronto police have also halted their use of the program, citing the serious concerns raised by the new information. Toronto Crime Stoppers has not disclosed whether the stolen names correspond to those who submitted tips or if they include the content of the tips themselves. The organization is working on a safer alternative to accept tips and will provide further details soon.