PHILIPSBURG, Pa. -- A recent rash of crime in Philipsburg has local leaders working to keep the streets patrolled.

Philipsburg Borough Manager Jan McDonald told WJAC-TV's Bill Wadell Tuesday that are planning to eventually create a regional police force.

McDonald is already in talks with leaders of Rush Township and Chester Hill Borough about sharing police services.

Plans for the regional police force are on hold because of a proposed bill in Harrisburg.

House Bill 1500, also known as the Pennsylvania State Police Municipal Patrol Services Act, would charge a per capita tax on communities that rely solely on Pennsylvania State Police for their protection and service.

Until the proposed legislation is either shot down or accepted, McDonald has chosen to recruit volunteers to help keep watch of streets at night in Philipsburg.

"They are non-confrontational," McDonald said as he explained his roving patrol initiative. "We're not pulling people over or anything like that. We simply report. Our biggest weapon is honestly a radio."

Business owners like Mario Lopez are supportive of the plans to create a local police force.

Lopez, owner of Brothers Pizza on Front Street, was victimized this fall when his pickup truck was stolen out of a Philipsburg parking lot. The car was later recovered in Clearfield County.

Following the theft, Lopez installed eight security cameras inside his apartment and business.

"Drugs have been increasing in this town a lot," said Lopez. "Everybody knows about it. I think that the lack of a police force is also a problem."

Last Sunday, one of those cameras captured video of a man moments after he smashed the front window of National Furniture, next door to Lopez's business.

That man can be seen in the video carrying a 42-inch flat screen TV as he walked away from the store.

Pennsylvania State Police in Philipsburg are still investigating.

Philipsburg Borough Manager Jan McDonald says that until work on a regional police department can start, he's hoping to use volunteers to keep an eye on the streets at night.