Those cameras are even helping police departments fight crime.
In Xenia, a man recently shared his video on Facebook of a man lurking around his property so that his neighbors could be on the lookout. He also called police so that officers would know what was going on his his neighborhood.
“Nowadays there are more and more people stealing stuff,” said homeowner Christopher Rodgers, who wants to make sure his home is protected.
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He has cameras all around his house, including one that recorded someone going through his stuff.
“I was skipping through the video around 3 a.m., I noticed that someone’s face was on the bottom of the screen,” Rodgers said.
From another angle someone walks across his lawn, and more alarming, his camera also caught someone at his neighbor’s house.
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“Him or somebody, you could see them shining a flashlight in their front window,” Rodgers said.
Rachel Babcock of Huber Heights shared a video with News Center 7 that shows a woman stealing her yard decorations. She didn’t want to be interviewed, but said it was startling to see a stranger on her property.
Rodgers agreed.
“It’s pretty shocking. You feel like you’re violated, because you’re not expecting to see anybody there and you randomly check (your camera footage) and they are,” he said.
Many police departments in the area have started programs for residents to register their cameras. It doesn’t give police remote access, but it’s used as a database to follow up in case there is a crime reported on that street or neighborhood.
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Kettering, Centerville, Clayton, Riverside, Clark County, West Chester Twp. and Middletown are among the police departments with programs. The Xenia Police Division said it is looking into a camera registry, but in the meantime said it’s a good idea and encourages residents to have surveillance cameras, just like Rodgers.
“I recommend getting whatever you feel might be good for you you, whether it be affordable or if you go all the way out. I got what I needed, it was budget-friendly,” Rodgers said.
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