Did you know tips to Crime Stoppers Niagara helped remove more than $1.1 million worth of illegal drugs from the streets of Niagara in the last five years?

Jason Snyder, vice-chair of the community watchdog organization, came to Niagara-on-the-Lake council Tuesday night with a pitch for council to lend Crime Stoppers a little more support in the future.

Though he asked for no money, he presented data showing the organization recovers about $3.74 for every dollar spent supporting it.

In addition to the ceased drugs, tips also helped recover $307,000 in cash and led to 210 arrests. 

“We want to educate older students to talk to younger students in classroom settings,” he said.

Snyder also asked permission to put up signs around town with the Crime Stoppers logo and tip line.

Coun. Maria Mavridis asked if council could help the group get into the schools to achieve that goal.

Snyder said “a gentleman” approached his daughter and “tried to get her into his car. She was 13 years old. He wasn’t really taking no for an answer.”

He was alarmed when he learned through his daughter’s principal that the school only teaches kids about “stranger danger” in kindergarten.

“It became pretty obvious that there’s a hole in our education system,” he said.

“Somebody who’s turning into a young woman has to deal with an entirely different type of animal than somebody in kindergarten,” he added.

After hearing suggestions from Coun. Gary Burroughs, council asked staff to explore ways the town could support the watchdog organization.