POSTED Wednesday, June 17, 2009 -- 9:45 p.m.

A new program by the Sauk Prairie Police Department nabs three burglars. But not before the crooks got their hands on some police property.

Late last year, NBC15 News told you about the skyrocketing number of burglaries in Sauk Prairie. Since then, police came up with an idea to curb the crime.

The problem? Recently, their main tool was stolen by the people they were trying to catch.

"The police men can't do their job if we don't help them."

If you're on Monroe Street in Sauk City and you walk past Ronald Loether's house you'll see what appears to be a political sign on his front lawn. But it isn't endorsing a candidate. It's endorsing crime prevention.

"This is a quiet village and we want to keep it that way."

Loether is one of 17 people who signed up for the Sauk Prairie Police Department's Operation "NAB" or Neighbors Against Burglars.

It's their version of a neighborhood watch.

"We're more vigilant now than we were probably before."

Loether got involved with operation NAB simply because he wanted to help out local law enforcement.

He had never been a victim himself.

But once he added the sign to his front lawn things changed.

"It is very ironic."

According to detective Paul Deuman, instead of breaking into people's homes, like Loether's and taking something of value, the crooks started stealing the signs.

"Ultimately we knew we were going to have some type of retaliation for the program."

Sign or no sign. That didn't stop people in the program from phoning in tips.

And thanks to them late last week the crooks responsible for stealing the signs were busted.

"It did what it was suppose to do...is basically get the community involved and calling in."

Since the crooks were caught the police department has redistributed the signs.

Loether used to have one on his lawn. But this time he decided to add a second.

"If one of them made them mad maybe two will make them madder."

Three people were arrested in connection with the thefts: two 19-year-olds, Justin Lewis and James Walls, and a 16-year-old. Police believe the three were linked to other burglaries in the area.