CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — A Ballantyne neighborhood is fighting crime with technology. Community crime watching is typical in most neighborhoods, but if you take a closer look you'll see dozens of cameras watching people in the Edinburgh Subdivision.
"We probably have about 25 cameras in our community at the moment," said Paul Aarons.
He was eager to reveal his cameras to Eyewitness News on Sunday.
Aarons is the police liaison for his neighborhood. He has used cameras for about two years now to deter crime. He also uses Facebook and email alerts about suspicious activity to keep neighbors informed. Sunday, he told Eyewitness News his efforts have paid off.
"The break-in that occurred down the street -- that camera captured an image that we can share with CMPD," said Aarons.
A camera near his house is set up to capture driver's faces and license plate numbers.
Aarons told Eyewitness News that footage from the cameras recently helped police nab someone accused of stealing neighborhood mail.
He also told Eyewitness News that the crime fighting tools have sent crime down about 68 percent over the past two years.
The neighborhood is planning on taking surveillance to another level. Some want to place two cameras at every entrance to the subdivision and record those who enter and exit. They want police to monitor that feed. There is no word on if or when that would happen.
WSOC
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
