Southeast : Stopping Crime May Be a Job for a Dummy

He is a six-foot-tall, brainless, two-dimensional man. And for about 25 liquor and convenience stores in Paramount, he could be a saving grace. His name: Scarecrow.

This cardboard cutout of a sheriff’s deputy, soon to be placed in windows of stores identified as robbery risks, is part of a two-pronged, $25,000 crime prevention program approved by Paramount’s City Council this week.

For those at-risk stores, the city will pay 80% of the cost for a new security system.

The system includes the cardboard deputy, a video monitor and 20-inch television, placed in plain view.

The idea behind Scarecrow is that some would-be criminals are lazy, said City Manager Pat West.

If anything, such as the shadow of a police officer, is seen through the window, the robber will drive right by.

For the more ambitious types, who actually venture into the store to case the joint, the television monitor will flash their photo--a reminder that a video camera is watching.

“We want it right out front to prevent the crime before it happens,” West said.