Phil Lord is correct that there is still a club called the Anti-horse theft
Protection Society (or something like that!) in Rensselaer County.  The
organization was formed to deal with just what the club name implies.

 I am familiar with the use of the term Vigilance Committee in reference to
the Underground Railroad.  I belive that this was, literally, a committee
of people keeping protective watch over and assisting escaped slaves.  We
had one of those in Rensselaer County also -- Troy, actually.