Illustration: Video Vigilante Back in the day, vigilantes dressed up in military-style berets and patrolled the streets of gritty neighborhoods. Now they walk the beat with video cameras and post the results on YouTube. These new citizen watchdogs use the video-sharing site to expose crimes that cops can't or won't police. Some call them heroes for documenting wrongdoing. Others see them as unaccountable nut jobs. Either way, their clips are attracting loads of traffic — up to 90,000 views a month — and in some cases actually helping to nab crooks. The amateur videos may not have the stellar production values of Cops. Then again, in some of these clips, it's the cops themselves getting busted.
Video Vigilante
City Oklahoma City
Beat Antiprostitution activist Brian Bates, founder of JohnTV.com, stakes out hooker hot spots, tapes men picking up streetwalkers, then films the couples getting busy. Recently he used fan donations to purchase a projector and screen, which he uses to shame johns with public outdoor screenings.
Most viewed video "Man Picks Up Hooker and Has Sex in Public Park"
See the evidence youtube.com/user/videovigilanteokc
Lake Street Lookout
City Chicago
Beat Since 2005, Kathy Kozan has been taping street violence in the Chicago nightclub district where she lives. In August, she captured a murder outside a venue that had been the scene of several of the area's worst fights. Police have yet to arrest the killer, but Kozan's video helped get the club shut down.
Most viewed video "More Nightclub Street Fights Chicago"
See the evidence youtube.com/user/lakestreetlookout
Jimmy Justice
City New York City
Beat Jimmy Justice (not his real name) catches authorities breaking the laws they're paid to enforce. He has collected nearly 30hours of NYPD officers parking on the sidewalk, making illegal turns, and blocking hydrants. In one fan favorite, an officer blames her illegal parking job on her period.
Most viewed video "Traffic Enforcement Agent Blocks Fire Hydrant During a Fire"
See the evidence youtube.com/user/jimmyjustice4753
Gangbuster
City Oceanside, California
Beat Marine veteran Ron Hinton films kids who he says look like gang members. A few neighbors claim Hinton's work has caused crime to drop, but many accuse him of racism — he focuses on black and Hispanic youths just hanging out. YouTube shut down his account, but he quickly set up a new one.
Most viewed video "Oceanside Gangbuster Snares a Thug"
See the evidence youtube.com/user/osidegangbust
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=052S1yg-zR0 "Traffic Enforcement Agent Blocks Fire Hydrant During a Fire"
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