Lawrence mayor hires private patrols

While Long Island officials wrestled with superstorm Sandy's flooding and power outages, Village of Lawrence Mayor Martin Oliner also took steps to protect his village's 7,000 residents from crime during the blackout.

Oliner hired private patrols, including off-duty city police and volunteers from the Brooklyn Shomrim, which is Hebrew for watchers or guards. He said the Shomrim, who do not carry guns, helped patrol Lawrence neighborhoods and direct traffic when Nassau police were stretched thin. He estimated the private patrols cost about $4,000 a day for three or four days.

No looting was reported in Lawrence. "It worked," Oliner said. -- Celeste Hadrick