Vigilants

Teller Town is so small that there is very little need for established law enforcement. Everyone knows everyone else, and most justice is administered by the wronged party or observant bystanders. This is mostly the case for things like petty theft or shoplifting or the like, where most of the perpetrators are unskilled and doing the crime as a dare.
However, occasionally there develops a more organized element of crime, some few individuals who desire to glut themselves on the labors of others, or eliminate competition, or just want to get wealthy without working for it in an honest manner. For these sorts of organizations, there exists the Vigilants.
Some members of this group are Sentinels or former Sentinels. Others are shopkeepers, or servants, or bodyguards. Some may even be youths with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are loosely knit, with no strong formal organization and are only active when circumstances seem to warrant it.
When it is obseved that there is an increase in threats against merchants, or damage done to shops or taverns or carts or other places of business that is far beyond pranks, then word will be passed among the 'members' and a meeting will take place.
First, it will be determined what the nature of the problem or problems are, if it is indeed beyond mere mischief, and if so, then certain plans will be implemented.
Those who have access to the places damaged, for instance, will gather information, determine the likely source of the problem, at least in terms of who or what may be pressuring the merchant, and report back to others of the Vigilants. They will identify those individuals who were involved in the destruction or the threats and over time learn who they report to. This is all done in a very casual manner, asking questions or listening to conversations as any neighbor would do.
Once the guilty party has been identified, then certain actions will ensue. Sometimes it takes the form of like for like, and the offender has his own place damaged. Other times it will just become impossible to continue doing underhanded business because others are always there observing or protecting. In still other instances, the guilty party will find themselves caught, tied up and deposited in front of the mayor's home along with his or her compatriots. Attached to their clothes will be a list of the crimes they are accused of committing.
While this group is certainly not official, they seem to be very effective, and to date, most townsfolk are satisfied with the process. Certainly satisfied compared to requiring taxes to pay for something official instead.

Structure

A group of like-minded individuals who oppose criminal activities and serve as civilian watchdogs and enforcers as needed for criminal activities beyond mere mischief.

See Summercamp 2020 for all my articles.

Let me tell you, Mabel, those Vigilants took good care of those ruffians. Set things all to rights, they did. And I nevermore had any trouble that I couldn't handle myself.