Cleveland — A small army and growing on Cleveland’s west side is determined to fight back.
They are collectively catching thieves and armed robbers red handed using a network of strategically-placed home video cameras.
Residents are following the lead of Ron Graham, who pretty much keeps an ear to his police scanner 24/7 from his home on W. 90th in Cleveland.
“I would say the biggest concern is carjackings and people being robbed at gunpoint,” said Graham.
Also increasingly frustrating is the fact that these thieves are stealing things that Ron and his neighbors have worked hard for.
But next bad guy beware.
“Better find another neighborhood. We’re setting up cameras everywhere,” Graham warns.
Graham has 21 security cameras on his own home and has hooked up 42 security cameras on other homes. It’s a network peppering places all over the first and second police districts.
“If everyone takes their income tax return and put a camera at this corner and that corner and in the center you can follow these people all the way to their house,” Graham suggests.
Too many cops can’t follow the bad guys anymore, Graham says. He points to cops he knows who are frustrated over called off police chases.
“They are sworn to do a good job and can’t do it," that’s what Graham says his Facebook page.
“West Cleveland Alerts” is on it’s way to 1500 others who are fed up and networking to follow criminals even when the cops can’t.
Residents say they're upset with a court system they don't believe keeps guilty criminals behind bars -- leaving victims to become victims once again.
“They’re back on the streets to arch them over an over again just a never ending battle,” said Graham.