Murphysboro, Ill – Murphysboro’s Mayor says he plans to take action on the recent outbreak of crime.

“I’m mad as hell,” Mayor Will Stephens says. “It upsets me every time that happens.”

Stephens says he will propose a bill to add cameras around the town so crime can be actively monitored.

“It would allow us to, over the course of period of a few hours, review who came in and out. If we have a suspect vehicle, it would give us a better idea of when they came in, when they came out, and which direction they were heading,” Stephens says.

“We are taking proactive steps to make Murphysboro the last place in southern Illinois where somebody wants to commit a crime.”

Stephens says those cameras would not keep video for longer than a few days to protect privacy rights.

The committee meeting is today, May 27, at 5:30 p.m.

Stephens spoke about the issue and others with Tom Miller on the Morning Newswatch on Friday, May 23.