From faster response times to reliable evidence and community engagement, security cameras are transforming the way law enforcement solves crimes.
When it comes to the top concerns of business owners and citizens, issues like the economy and crime are consistently ranked high. Criminal acts jeopardize customer and employee safety, damage the reputations of businesses, and can torpedo profit margins. Yet, 2022 FBI statistics show that under 40% of violent crimes are solved by law enforcement—and for property crimes, those numbers skew even lower.
While there isn’t a magic wand or a superhero to save the day and miraculously turn those numbers around, there is one tool worthy of being in a crime fighter’s toolkit that can help stem the tide. Security cameras have been proven to be effective crime deterrents and have been shown to not only help solve cases faster but also result in higher conviction rates.
In fact, they have been instrumental in piecing together the events leading up to and in apprehending suspects in such high-profile cases as the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 and the recent murder of United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson. Thanks to the footage provided by security cameras, investigators were able to capture the events of the actual crime, piece together a timeline, and track the whereabouts of those believed to be involved.
Surveillance cameras are not just being used for crimes that garner nationwide attention, they are being used in everyday local situations. Their capacity for high quality images and recordings is helping law enforcement agencies battle a variety of bad actors from public transportation fare evaders to shoplifters, to burglars, to those engaging in more serious assaults.
Evidence is only as valuable as the reliability of its source. Eyewitness accounts can be extremely useful in recreating events and providing descriptions of perpetrators, but they can be compromised by several factors. Despite best intentions, people’s memories can fade over time, accounts can be affected by emotion or interpretation, and sometimes they can be erroneous based on how quickly events happened, or circumstances like poor visibility or lighting.
This is where security cameras can be indispensable—they provide an objective record of events that can be played back and reviewed repeatedly, frame by frame. Things that happened in an instant can be slowed down and reviewed to make sure nothing is mistaken or missed.
Plus, most surveillance cameras are now equipped with high-quality lenses capable of capturing detailed images, even in challenging low-light conditions. With the aid of thermal and low-light technology, cameras can overcome suboptimal lighting and weather, capturing details beyond the capabilities of the human eye.
Deploying various surveillance cameras provides a more complete picture of events. Multiple cameras offer multiple perspectives, adding context and creating a comprehensive view of the situation.
This can be especially important in crimes that may seem isolated but have larger implications and networks. For example, cameras may capture what appears to be a single retail theft incident. However, footage from other cameras—covering parking lots, nearby businesses, and neighborhood CCTV—might tell a different story. When all the footage is reviewed, it may reveal a lookout, a getaway vehicle, or even shoplifters committing similar crimes at adjacent stores, pointing to a more complex organized retail crime operation.
This collection of surveillance feeds can help construct a timeline and also help law enforcement agencies follow the trail and infiltrate multiple layers and levels of criminal networks and activity.
Security cameras deliver real-time monitoring and automated alerts, cutting down the time it takes to notify authorities and get them on the scene after a crime is committed. This improved response time can increase the likelihood of arrest and the likelihood that the suspect will be identified by a victim or eyewitness. Furthermore, when law enforcement officers arrive on the scene quickly, they are more likely to be able to identify and speak to eyewitnesses before they leave the scene.
By using surveillance footage to obtain a visual image of a suspect, law enforcement can actively engage the community in their investigations. Authorities can disseminate images or details gleaned from the event through social media—or traditional mediums like flyers and posters—to both alert and solicit information from the community. This can extend the reach of their investigations and is particularly helpful in identifying unknown suspects, their inner circle of family and friends, and gathering information on their potential whereabouts.
Surveillance cameras are powerful tools for tracking the movements and direction of perpetrators. When paired with AI features like facial recognition and license plate readers, they can help identify criminals and trace their movements both before and after a crime. This not only aids in apprehension but also helps retrace the criminals' steps to uncover their actions prior to the crime, revealing patterns, security gaps, or other potential targets.
Video footage can be compelling evidence that increases the chances of catching and convicting criminals. It reduces room for interpretation or human bias and helps resolve conflicting accounts of events during a trial. It provides a factual representation of events and offers a way to verify and corroborate details from eyewitness accounts, victims, and suspects. Just as video evidence can help convict guilty parties, it can also be crucial in exonerating the innocent. Better evidence leads to better judicial outcomes.
Surveillance cameras are powerful tools in law enforcement’s fight against crime. Now outfitted with state-of-the art advancements from thermal imaging to artificial intelligence to automated notifications, law enforcement is better positioned to capture individual criminals participating in various types of thefts and unlawful acts, as well as unravel complex organized retail crime syndicates. Cameras allow authorities the ability to recreate timelines, collect better evidence, and build better cases.
LiveView Technologies® is a leader in surveillance camera systems, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to detect and deter unwanted behavior. Reach out to see how our innovative solutions can help protect and create a comprehensive security plan for your business.
