TRASH BIN ALERTS NEIGHBORHOOD OF DRUG HOUSE

That big, bright trash receptacle people might find parked on the
street in their neighborhoods isn't there to collect garbage.

It's there to alert them that a drug house is nearby.

A new initiative by Crime Stoppers of Sangamon and Menard Counties
allows police, at the request of neighborhood organizations, to park a
large, brightly painted trash bin on blocks where known drug houses
operate.

The goal is to let residents and drug dealers know police are
watching.

"This is a proactive approach to help rid our community of illegal
drug activity," said Mayor Tim Davlin.

Once a bin is parked in a neighborhood - one is parked now in the 1200
block of South 16th Street - officials will blanket the neighborhood
with leaflets and information about how to identify illegal drug
activity and report it to police, such as jotting down license plate
numbers of suspicious cars in the area.

The program has an additional component, which involves contacting
people whose vehicles were seen at the drug houses, according to
Springfield police Lt. Bill Neale, a former Crime Stoppers coordinator
who thought up the program.

"We have an informational letter saying we're not accusing you of any
wrongdoing, but a vehicle registering to you has been seen at or near
a suspected drug house in (a particular) block. 'This is to inform you
this area is currently under surveillance by our narcotics unit. If
your vehicle is being used for the illegal transportation of drugs it
could be subject to asset forfeiture,'" Neale said.

The letter instructs anyone who believes they received the letter
erroneously to contact the Crime Stoppers coordinator.

Neale said he came up with the plan after realizing residents often
thought nothing was being done about their tips after they called
Crime Stoppers.

"I spent many sleepless nights trying to think of something ... a
program where we could show people we are doing something and trying
to make a difference in their neighborhoods," he said. "I came up with
the (trash bin) idea for two reasons: one, it's pretty indestructible,
and, two, because of our saying about Crime Stoppers helping to 'clean
up' your neighborhood."

Indestructible is an understatement. The lid on the bin is welded
shut, so there is no chance of people using it for its original
intended purpose of garbage collection. A surveillance dome is mounted
inside, so police can place cameras in it when they need to.

Safety lights have been installed on the exterior to prevent people
from running into the bin, and those lights are surrounded by welded
cages. The paint is covered with a special coating that makes it
graffiti proof. A cleaner can be used to wipe off spray paint.

The bin will be left in a location for several weeks and then moved.
Police will place it only in neighborhoods where they have
substantiated tips about drug activity. They also will check with
investigators before placing it anywhere to make sure a drug
investigation isn't already under way in the area.

Everything associated with the program was donated by local
businesses, including Canham Graphics, Capital Area Career Center,
Egizii Electric, Fehring Iron Works, Highway Technologies, Kim's Auto
Body, Lake Area Disposal, Neon & Fluorescent Sign Supply, Pawnee
Lumber and Tom's Towing Service..