An Extra Set of Eyes in Streator
By: Jacob Long, WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: October 3, 2012
STREATOR - A neighborhood watch group in Streator is trying to take back the city.
"Our intent is to create a greater sense of ownership of the community through the people who live in the community," said Toni Pettit, treasurer of the city's Neighborhood Watch Group.
The group especially takes pride in City Park, but says vandalism is a constant problem on benches, playground equipment and pavilions.
"Kids can read and they come to play on the playground equipment ,and their moms, their parents, their babysitters or whatever are looking at this stuff and stressing I don't want to bring my kids here," Pettit said.
Some of the graffiti is so bad WMBD 31 can't show you on air.
"We have found that people who have come to our community don't share the same values," said group president Tim Hatzer.
Not only is vandalism an issue in Streator, but the city has also seen a rash of suspected arsons.
So the group decided enough is enough.
It raised $2,000 roughly through raffles and used the money to buy 16 security cameras.
"The park is ours. We are tax payers, and this is where our money goes to maintain this. And it is here for the enjoyment of the entire community," Pettit said.
The cameras will serve as an extra set of eyes for police. Only they aren't saying where they'll be in the park.
Hatzer said, "That's part of surveillance. They can't tell you where."
The group said the cameras will be so strong you'll be able to zoom in and see a license plate or someone's face from the other side of the park.
That's several hundred feet if you're not familiar with the area.
"If you have something that's going on and not within the realm of the law, if it's captured on camera and it's captured on disc, that's evidence right there," Hatzer said.
The hope is officers will catch whomever is responsible, and this group thinks that won't be a problem.
"No perfect crime," Hatzer said.
Even with the cameras, the group's work is not done. It's still patrolling neighborhoods and asking people to get involved.
Meanwhile, police have made no arrests regarding recent crimes. A $10,000 reward is being offered for suspect information related to the string of arsons.
"Our intent is to create a greater sense of ownership of the community through the people who live in the community," said Toni Pettit, treasurer of the city's Neighborhood Watch Group.
The group especially takes pride in City Park, but says vandalism is a constant problem on benches, playground equipment and pavilions.
"Kids can read and they come to play on the playground equipment ,and their moms, their parents, their babysitters or whatever are looking at this stuff and stressing I don't want to bring my kids here," Pettit said.
Some of the graffiti is so bad WMBD 31 can't show you on air.
"We have found that people who have come to our community don't share the same values," said group president Tim Hatzer.
Not only is vandalism an issue in Streator, but the city has also seen a rash of suspected arsons.
So the group decided enough is enough.
It raised $2,000 roughly through raffles and used the money to buy 16 security cameras.
"The park is ours. We are tax payers, and this is where our money goes to maintain this. And it is here for the enjoyment of the entire community," Pettit said.
The cameras will serve as an extra set of eyes for police. Only they aren't saying where they'll be in the park.
Hatzer said, "That's part of surveillance. They can't tell you where."
The group said the cameras will be so strong you'll be able to zoom in and see a license plate or someone's face from the other side of the park.
That's several hundred feet if you're not familiar with the area.
"If you have something that's going on and not within the realm of the law, if it's captured on camera and it's captured on disc, that's evidence right there," Hatzer said.
The hope is officers will catch whomever is responsible, and this group thinks that won't be a problem.
"No perfect crime," Hatzer said.
Even with the cameras, the group's work is not done. It's still patrolling neighborhoods and asking people to get involved.
Meanwhile, police have made no arrests regarding recent crimes. A $10,000 reward is being offered for suspect information related to the string of arsons.
