The founder of a group which patrols Tameside's streets fears he could soon get hurt without extra support after falling into 'some sticky situations'.
Crimewatchers has been patrolling Droylsden and Audenshaw since the start of the Covid pandemic, and the group has built up a loyal following on social media.
The team won support from Greater Manchester Police earlier this year, having previously been dismissed by the force as 'not to be trusted', before members carried out essential training.
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But after almost two years of monitoring the streets with mascot Sabre the dog, Crimewatchers' founder fears either himself or another member could soon 'run out of luck'.
The founder, who wishes to remain anonymous, wrote on the group's Facebook page : "I always try to keep things positive but tonight I need to express something that at present is becoming a major concern.
"As demand has grown over the recent months we have attended some incidents that have put me in some sticky situations and more recently this is happening too often.
"I have a great team but I am the only full-time Crimewatcher with me going out weeks on end without a night off.
"The lads do a great job supporting me as and when they can but they have full-time jobs and I need lads out with me every night.
"We need safety in numbers to prevent what I feel sadly at the minute is inevitable.
"I don’t want myself or my team to get hurt but more often than not I’m outnumbered, and I fear my luck may soon run out."
The Crimewatchers founder set the group up while on furlough last year, before ending his career as a mechanic to carry out the role full-time.
Crimewatchers has been accepting donations online and launched a subscription model earlier this year, with residents able to pay from £5 a month to support the group.
The group's founder says extra funds are needed to support more members, who could join him on patrol for 'safety in numbers'.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News back in May, he said: "When I started this I never had the intention of seeing it as a business opportunity.
"Crime was on the rise in the area and we just wanted to support people.
"I've taken a chance and I'm hoping that people are going to support us with what we have done already."
He added: "We're not out there trying to be vigilantes."
Chf Insp Lee Broadstock, who deals with neighbourhood policing in Tameside for GMP, told the M.E.N. in May that the force was happy to work with Crimewatchers after previously raising concerns about them.
He said: "There was some initial community concerns with a view that it was edging towards vigilantism, so we had to respond.
"But we have since met with them, they have affiliated themselves to establish a security company and go down the route of private security, and we are fully prepared to work with them in partnership."
