Decatur police could soon ask neighbors to register home surveillance cameras

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Home surveillance cameras could provide a faster way for police to catch criminals.

The Decatur Police Department may ask neighbors to register their home surveillance cameras with the department, similar to another surveillance network already up and running in Brookhaven.

"I think it's a great idea. I wish more cameras had been around before that could have potentially helped us with our situation," Miranda Goer, a resident who lives in Decatur, told Channel 2's Justin Wilfon.

A surveyed obtained by Channel 2 Action News showed Decatur police have recently begun asking homeowners to share their opinions about a a video surveillance camera index program.

It would ask neighbors to register their surveillance cameras with Decatur police, which would allow investigators to know quickly who has cameras if a crime occurs at their home or nearby.

In Brookhaven, police there already launched a similar network more than a year ago.

TRENDING STORIES:

• More frigid cold weather ahead for metro Atlanta
• Trump plans to attend Georgia-Alabama National Championship in Atlanta
• Snow falling in parts of coastal Georgia, Florida

"Back in the day detectives would have to canvass neighborhoods on foot investigating a crime to see if there's any cameras captured something. Those days are gone," said Maj. Brandon Gurley with the Brookhaven police.

A map shows the more than 90 cameras across Brookhaven that residents already registered for the network -- and Brookhaven police tell us it’s working.

"All sorts of misdemeanor and felony cases that we've been involved in, we've developed leads that have led to arrests utilizing this program," Gurley said.

The program may now spread across the metro, and into Goer's front yard.

"Our camera around here gets a pretty good view. It does hit the street," Goer said.

Cox Media Group