WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Police and city officials are asking residents, who use technology to keep a watchful eye on the neighborhood, to keep police in the loop when it comes to criminal activity — like package thefts and car break-ins.
If you have a doorbell camera, the West Chester Police Department would like to know about it, according to city spokesperson Barbara Wilson.
West Chester has had a successful neighborhood watch program since the 1950s, she said. Registering your camera does not give police access to the camera or video it records. Instead, residents are asked to answer a few questions about their cameras online; how many cameras are in use, how long video is stored and their contact information.
"By registering, residents are simply providing police with another potential tool for keeping West Chester neighborhoods safe," Wilson wrote in a news release.
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If a crime occurs, police will ask participating residents in the immediate area for access to their cameras. Residents are not obligated to share any video and personal information will be kept confidential.
Business owners who utilize cameras are also encouraged to work with police to create a "digital neighborhood watch" program.
Click here to register a security camera or learn more about the program.
