Surveillance Cameras for Chestnut Hill?

At the last Board of Directors meeting of the Chestnut Hill Community Association,  board member Christopher Padova gave insights from a recent town watch meeting, attended by 14th Police District Captain Joel Dales.

Among other crime prevention tips, Padova shared the idea of installing surveillance cameras in areas throughout Chestnut Hill to deter burglaries and cars being broken into.

“Some of us are buying personal cameras, and telling the police department that we have them, so if something happens the police can come and look at them,” Padova said.

He continued that the idea was mentioned of pooling money to buy cameras in bulk, and getting a discounted price on cameras to install throughout Chestnut Hill, “maybe behind and throughout parking lots and places, but try to get 25 or 50 cameras,” Padova said.

Those who have security cameras in place already can register their cameras with the Philadelphia Police Department’s SafeCam program here, which helps police use the surveillance footage in the event of a crime.

Do you think having security cameras installed in Chestnut Hill is a good plan to prevent crime? Where should they go? Tell us in comments.