Truesdale city officials are tired of the increased crime happening in their small town and want to see the city take a tougher stance against habitual offenders. "Something has to be done," Alderman Rhonda Colombo remarked at last Wednesday's board of aldermen meeting. "We will be running good people out of this town." The issue was raised at last week's meeting when city attorney Tim Joyce commented about a new procedure in place that requires him to file a report with the state if municipal charges are dropped against a resident picked up by the city's police department. Citing assault cases that have resulted in nonaction due to lack of evidence, such as photos of the victims, Joyce wants the city to show a willingness to pursue legal action when warranted. "The only way we will stop the problem on some of these habitual people is incarceration," Joyce said. In a highly charged portion of last week's meeting, Colombo stated that the city has to punish criminals to the fullest extent of the law. She noted that residents were supposed to show up to voice their concerns as well, but failed to attend. City officials seemed open to taking the next step and putting offenders in jail. The daily rate to have someone lodged in the Warren County Jail is $55, according to Sheriff Kevin Harrison. The fee would be paid by the city. The city has shied away from incurring jail costs in previous years, but Mayor Murray Bruer remarked a stint behind bars might catch the attention of the repeat offenders. He said it's time for the city to send a message to residents, including the ones who have been getting the police's constant attention. "We have to start showing the residents of Truesdale who are hard working and having all these troubles we are doing something to protect them," Colombo said. According to Truesdale Police Chief Ken Black, he has seen an increase in the number of calls to his department. Several reports have been for items stolen out of vehicles. Black said at last week's meeting there are about a "half dozen" habitual offenders his department has been repeatedly dealing with. Earlier this summer, the city approved a police model code that gave the department more authority to crack down on criminal conduct in the city. He added that it's not uncommon for individuals to be arrested, booked and return back to the location where an incident can easily be instigated again. City officials have been concerned about activity occurring in an apartment complex located on Wabash Street next to the Dieckman Farms subdivision. Alderman Adriane Null agreed with Colombo that something needs to be done. She became a victim recently when a truck was stolen from her family's driveway. She said a neighbor has expressed interest in moving out of the city due to the increase in crime. "It's only going to get worse," Null said. If not for the slow economy hurting real estate sales, Alderman Shalene Blackwood said two neighboring property owners also would have moved out by now. "That is why they (repeat offenders) are here, they aren't getting bothered enough," Blackwood said. Where the police are consistently responding to apartment complexes, Joyce suggested the city contact property owners and keep them abreast of the parties getting in trouble. "We are starting to see the same old names and it's starting to get frustrating," he said.