Some Say Neighborhood Cameras Relocate Crime

Community leaders told city council members Wednesday night that neighborhood cameras were making a huge difference while neighbors said that they were not making the impact they had hoped for.

The Columbus city council has yet to approve the money, but the intersections of Fairwood and Livingston avenues, East Main Street and Champion Avenue, Kent Street and Seymour Avenue as well as South 22nd Street and East Rich Street are slated to get cameras, 10TV's Jason Frazer reported.

Connie Boykin said that the cameras have not deterred criminal activity, but moved it.

"Since they know that the cameras are there now, they're pushing further east," Boykin said.

Boikin said that criminals are targeting neighborhoods that do not have cameras.

"We don't have them yet," Boykin said. "What we're trying to do is get them."

Joyce Hughes said that she worries if the cameras would do enough.

"The tape may not be as clear," Hughes said. "They may not have focused the camera in a direction."

City officials said that the cameras are not a cure-all.

"It's not a silver bullet," councilmember Michelle Mills said. "We need to continue to energize folks around to be diligent and look at what's going around them."

Currently, the city can only afford to monitor the camera feeds full time four days a week. Mayor Michael Coleman has proposed spending an additional $2 million to expand the camera program.

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for more information.