An unmeasurable number of crimes may have been prevented last week, thanks in part to the goodwill of local IT solutions provider Applied Computer Technologies, according to the Salvation Army.

A.C.T. donated funds to the Salvation Army annual Christmas dinner for the homeless, which took place last Thursday.

Major Chuck Eyre, executive director of community services of the Bermuda branch of the Salvation Army, said: "Over the past few days it has been sad to see so many stories of violent attacks, burglaries and other crimes. All of these incidences will ultimately become a statistic and be used to measure the increase or decrease of crime throughout the Island.

"What cannot be measured is the number of crimes that have not been committed because somebody cared, be it the Salvation Army or any other entity. We will never know how many crimes were not committed (on Thursday night) because individuals had a place to come and enjoy a meal and get help.

"It is these positive and immeasurable statistics that are the direct result of the involvement of people and companies like Applied Computer Technologies.

"I am certainly not saying that the folks we attend to are criminals," Major Eyre added. "However, my past experience has shown me that many crimes are created out of frustration, not due to individuals having a deviant nature.

"And, being able to share a meal or provide comfort in any way may just have a direct positive impact if an individual is very frustrated.

"(The) donation from ACT gave us the ability not only to provide a full Christmas dinner for approximately 150 homeless individuals, but we were also able to give each person a small Christmas present," he said. "As a not-for-profit organisation, the Salvation Army is financially dependent on the goodwill of Bermuda residents and the Corporate community."

John Robbins, managing director of A.C.T. told The Royal Gazette: "We decided this year that as a company, in lieu of sending out Christmas cards and gifts to our clients, that we would instead seek out a way that we might bring some of the joy and spirit of the Christmas Season to those who might otherwise go without.

"Having been involved with the Salvation Army in the past, we were aware of their annual Christmas lunches and dinners and made the assumption that we might be able to assist financially in covering the costs of the dinner.

Mr. Robbins noted that the idea received unanimous support, and that "great pleasure" was taken in the donation.