‘Cam Watch’ on crime wins support

A grassroots campaign that claims to have stopped neighbourhood crime in its tracks has been welcomed as a possible template for Geraldton to follow.

Residents in Armadale Road, Rivervale, a Perth suburb, say they halted burglaries and graffiti in their street with the introduction of the Cam Watch program.

Under the program, residents installed security cameras at their houses and warning signs to potential criminals that they were being watched.

Michelle McLean is a spokeswoman for Geraldton Residents Demand Our Streets Back, a Facebook group with 2900 members which aims to raise awareness of crime.

She said the Rivervale experience was “very promising”, showing the power of cameras to deter crime, but installation costs were a hurdle.

“Cameras are the best way to help deter and capture evidence concerning crime in our suburbs,” she said.

“I did put forward to local businesses to please look at the idea of providing a discount to anyone that may be on a welfare card, especially single parents or pensioners, to enable the entire community to afford a camera system — and I would like to once again put this forward.”

Ms McLean rejected concerns widespread installation of security cameras could be seen as an invasion of privacy and breach of civil liberties.

“I (would) find it a breach of my privacy and civil liberties to come home to find my home ransacked and destroyed or worse,” she said.

Sergeant Julie Leighton said Geraldton police encouraged people to take some responsibility for their homes and personal security.

She said they could also get involved in reducing neighbourhood crime through involvement with Neighbourhood Watch, EWatch, and Eyes on the Street.

“The Tougher for Crooks campaign is the latest example of a campaign highlighting this,” she said.

“The move to crackdown on property crime comes after statistics revealed nearly one-third of all home burglaries and theft was occurring through unlocked doors and windows. This campaign complements the work of WA Police officers through their everyday work and targeted operations.”

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Source: https://www.police.wa.gov.au/About-Us/News/Making-it-Tougher-for-Crooks