Neighborhood Surveillance Cameras Work To Deter Crime

Security cameras in five neighborhoods have made a dent in crime, Columbus officials said Friday.
 
10TV’s Jason Frazer reported that five Columbus neighborhoods that had security cameras installed during the summer have seen a decrease in crime.
 
Those neighborhoods were the Hilltop, Livingston Avenue, Mount Vernon, Weinland Park and South Linden.
 
Bob Braun, who owns a rental property in the Hilltop, said the safety of his tenants is a huge concern.
 
“The guy that owned it prior to me was unable to rent it,” Braun said.
 
Dan Giangardella, deputy safety director for the City of Columbus, said the cameras have helped.
 
“We've had some successes with some apprehensions of individuals in some of the neighborhoods,” Giangardella said.
 
Last August, police arrested several people injecting themselves with what was believed to be heroin within two minutes of seeing them on the security camera, Frazer reported.
 
Giangardella said the city does not have numbers to know how successful the cameras have been, but Columbus resident Fred Tompkins said they have helped.
 
“When they put the cameras up, these guys went away,” Thompson said.
 
Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for more information.