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CHARLOTTE -- Neighbors in the Stonehaven community in east Charlotte have commissioned their own crime constable.

Brian Lutes wears a uniform, carries pepper spray and a handgun, and even drives an old patrol car but the badge he's brandishing doesn't belong to any bureau of boys in blue.

“We are out here every weekend without fail,” he said as he rode through the neighborhood Sunday.

Lutes, a Stonehaven resident and former law enforcement officer, started patrolling the streets last May after a rash of crime. First he used a bike and then residents chipped in to rent patrol cars, spending around $500 a month.

A few weeks ago, the community purchased a Ford Crown Victoria outfitted with a spotlight, strobes and stickers.

“The feedback I hear is mostly positive. It is good,” Lutes said.

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's crime mapping, crime in the area has actually increased in the 10 months Lutes has taken up this task compared to the 10 months prior but Lutes says it was never really bad to begin with. He says his patrol presence is more about peace of mind.

The patrol car, its gas and upkeep is funded by neighborhood donations.