Chicago to reimburse residents, businesses for security cameras, GPS trackers, Lightfoot says
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago's new program offers cash for cameras and, crucially, increased city access to home or business security cameras for investigators trying to solve crimes.
Surveillance videos, home security cameras and, increasingly, crystal clear Ring doorbell footage, are often their best hope at tracing criminals.
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"Video evidence helps identify suspects. It helps officers know what occurred and when it occurred when there's not witnesses. And video evidence helps determine charges," said Chicago Police Department Superintendent David Brown.
But that kind of high-tech security is costly.
"Many families, maybe single residents, many seniors and yes, even sort of businesses, want security cameras, but actually can't afford it," said anti-violence activist Father Michael Pflager of St. Sabina Catholic Church. "We see the prices of everything going up."
WATCH: Lightfoot, Brown speak on new security program
So, the city is now offering to help pick up the tab. The $5.3 million program offers home or business owners:
In order to get the reimbursement, people must register the devices with the city's record.
"So by having existing businesses and residents register their cameras, you are literally becoming our eyes and ears," said Mayor Lori Lightfoot. "What this does is give us a tool that when something happens in a particular area that detectives and other police officers will know where to look to find camera footage."
"I actually did it, because the crime has gone up in our area very bad," said resident Janalene Franklin.
It does not give detectives or any city official the ability to access camera footage. For that, owners must still give consent.
"It's easy to turn over and you can download it or share it immediately, share through a text immediately," Franklin said.
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"When residents share video, it helps solve cases quickly," Brown said.
The city is also crowd-sourcing and trying to raise $1 million to fund what it said will be the largest gun-buy-back program ever in Chicago, offering more financial incentives to citizens to contribute to helping get weapons off the streets.
