Winnipeggers frustrated by crimes in their neighbourhoods have taken matters into their own hands — by setting up cameras to try to catch the culprits, passing tips via website and even patrolling the streets.

Curtis Webb said he was so tired of a growing trend in graffiti, vandalism and car theft in his West Kildonan neighbourhood that he started a website showing real-time video of his back lane from a camera hidden near his house.

'I'm looking to nip this in the bud and micromanage my life. Cops have better things, you know, more serious crime to worry about.'-Curtis Webb

"In the last few months, it's just been a bombardment of vandalism in the area," Webb said on Tuesday. "In addition to vandalism, there's been a lot of theft and a lot of break-ins."

In addition to vandalism, Webb said he has also seen a high frequency of graffiti sprayed onto garages and fences in his back lane. His property was "tagged" four times, he said.

Webb's website, winnipegtheft.com, also has a weblog and a message board on which people discuss their own frustrations and solutions to crime, as well as perhaps pass along tips about who is vandalizing the neighbourhood.

"Everybody has a tidbit of information, and always someone says, 'I wish someone would do something,' … Well, I am, and I want to bring everyone together and at least exchange information," Webb said.

"Because we know people know. My friend who's the webmaster of the site, he's already talked to three kids that are 20 years old. They all know who the offenders are: they just won't give them up."

'You can confront them, you can give them damage. They throw a punch, we throw back.'-Mark Somers of Interactive Citizens

Webb said he hopes his neighbours can catch the vandals red-handed — at least virtually, through the live video stream.

"I'm looking to nip this in the bud and micromanage my life," he said. "Cops have better things, you know, more serious crime to worry about."

But he acknowledged that he isn't quite sure how he would confront someone he catches spray-painting graffiti on his property.

'Interactive Citizens' patrols streets

Meanwhile, Mark Somers said he was growing frustrated with illegal activity in his West End neighbourhood so he started Interactive Citizens to patrol the area.

Somers said he has faced off against drug dealers, pimps and other criminals.

"You can confront them, you can give them damage. They throw a punch, we throw back," Somers said Tuesday.

"I've never started a fight.… I've had good, serious assaults. I've had people hop fences, come with knives."

The patrols look for signs of trouble and hope to keep johns, vandals and other criminals away with their presence. Somers said his goal to make the place safe for children.

"These kids have the right to play in their front yards," he said.

Police, councillor warn against vigilantism

Police and city officials do not condone taking matters into one's own hands. Instead, they suggest citizens join established programs such as Neighbourhood Watch and Citizens on Patrol.

'Where we get a little bit nervous, obviously, is where people cross that line and go beyond kind of just being the eyes and ears of the neighbourhood…'-Gord Steeves

"Where we get a little bit nervous, obviously, is where people cross that line and go beyond kind of just being the eyes and ears of the neighbourhood to becoming an arresting force in the neighbourhood, making determinations of guilt and innocence," St. Vital Coun. Gord Steeves, who chairs the city's protection committee, said on Tuesday.

Steeves urged anyone who has recorded a crime being committed to turn the matter over to the police.