Oakland Hills Residents Fighting Crime With Surveillance Cameras
OAKLAND (KCBS) — As Oakland residents deal with increasing crime and fewer police officers on the streets, some residents are turning to surveillance cameras to thwart and catch criminals.
Oakland City Councilmember Libby Schaaf is a proponent of video cameras for security purposes and admits the city is short on police officers.
"It takes time to build up and recruit our police force. In the meantime, this is a great way for our citizens to help cover that gap while we're doing that," Schaaf said.
KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:
She added that the neighborhood watch groups have taken a leadership role in hosting workshops to teach residents about surveillance cameras.
Schaaf said an Oakland Hills couple who installed a system was on vacation in Florida when someone broke into their home. The security system quickly sent them a text message.
"They were able to pull up a live image of what was going on in their home while they were on vacation, called the police and the police actually arrested the burglars in the act," Schaaf said.
Security cameras start at $150. Logitech, which makes security cameras, offers discounts for groups of neighbors. Schaaf has also created a website called safeoakland.com, which offers security tips.
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