Investigations are underway centred around the well-known non-profit crime reporting system, Crime Stoppers, and a data breach that has led Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS), Guelph Police, and others to pull back from the anonymous service.
Those local police services detailing the cybersecurity threat targeting Crime Stoppers and its third-party tip collection software, P3, after thousands of anonymous tips were stolen in the recent attack.
That software used by Crime Stoppers is owned by the company Navigate360, which told Guelph Police that as many as 14,898 tips from Crime Stoppers Guelph-Wellington (CSGW), dating from 1996 through to 2025.
“It has also found that there are 1,407 names contained in those stolen tips,” said CSGW in a statement.
“Navigate360 has not told us whether those names belong to people who submitted tips and self-identified, people who were named as suspects in tips, or both.”
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The cybersecurity breach is said to have happened back in March, with CSGW saying that, as of April, they were told by Navigate360 that no data had been taken, saying, “We were repeatedly assured that Canadian data had not been part of this data theft.”
In June, however, CSGW said they were notified that their connected data had been impacted, with WRPS confirming that they were notified soon after.
At this time, no details are known about how many tips were taken through Waterloo Region Crime Stoppers (WRCS) following the data breach.
While the attack itself happened months ago, CSGW has stated that “To date, we have still not seen the text of the stolen tips,” meaning there is no firm grasp on the specific identities or anonymous information that has been taken in the breach.
Earlier this year, we suspended the promotion of Crime Stoppers through our public channels following a cybersecurity incident involving the P3 platform provider, Navigate360. We recognize the serious concerns arising from recent reports regarding the scope and nature of the Navigate360 breach, and the importance of protecting the anonymity of individuals who have provided confidential information through Crime Stoppers. We continue to monitor the situation and work with Waterloo Regional Crime Stoppers as more information becomes available. Read the full statement below or visit: https://t.co/MHs6sPno9F
— Waterloo Regional Police (@WRPSToday) October 23, 2026
“As a precaution, WRPS suspended the promotion of Crime Stoppers as a reporting option through WRPS’ public channels in early July 2026,” said WRPS in a release.
“WRPS continues to actively monitor the situation and is working with Waterloo Regional Crime Stoppers as further information about the breach becomes available and to determine the appropriate next steps.”
WRCS has assured residents across the region that “the P3 platform operates independently of the Waterloo Regional Police Service, and there is no impact on WRPS networks or systems.”
“Waterloo Regional Crime Stoppers is working with the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association and Navigate360 to assess the scope and impact of the breach,” it said in a statement.
While the situation continues and investigations around the breach remain ongoing, WRPS has said that “anyone who may wish to provide information about crime or public safety concerns are encouraged to contact WRPS at 519-570-9777 or, in the event of an emergency, 9-1-1.”
It did state, however, that those channels “do not provide the anonymity associated with the Crime Stoppers program,” but added that it will still ensure information is properly received by investigators regarding any given case.
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