Eyes 24/7 on criminals

Surveillance cameras are increasingly being used to deter and catch criminals

When Destrehan residents awoke one morning last year to find their mailboxes damaged, footage from surveillance cameras provided the leads that resulted in arrests.

Some of those images came from one or more of five cameras at Ricky Dupont’s residence in the Ormond area, one being the image of the vehicle the suspects likely used to flee the scene. Since this time, he has increased the cameras to seven, and he’s thinking about getting better cameras and going digital. He’s trying to talk more of his neighbors into getting them, too.

“I have no dead spots,” he said of his cameras having full sight of the area surrounding his house. “I recommend that everybody get one. If everyone put up cameras, we’d know everybody who comes in the neighborhood.”

Dupont is guarding his residence, particularly after numerous incidents had occurred in his area.

“It’s better than not having them that’s for sure,” he said. “At least you have a general description that can be identified. It’s going to be helpful.”

When items started disappearing from vehicles in driveways in Dupont’s area, cameras solved the mystery.

Video footage showed teens walking from driveway to driveway trying to open vehicle doors, he said. When they found an open one, they just reached in and took items. Dupont’s own cameras showed them trying to open his truck doors, but they were locked.

Surveillance cameras are increasingly putting eyes 24/7 on crime and, according to St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne, they’re making a difference.

“It’s becoming more and more important day by day,” said Champagne, who established a database to network available cameras and get permission to obtain footage from residents who have them. “Video is playing an increasing role in catching criminals, and criminals are becoming cautious of them.”

Dupont is on the database and recalled several times when deputies asked to see video from his cameras, sometimes returning two or three times to review a video.Champagne declined to say how many cameras are on the database and map, but he did clarify, “We have a pretty fair amount.”

Their role in catching criminals is increasing, particularly as camera quality continues to improve and residents are encouraged to get good quality cameras.

Even when suspects cover their identity with gloves or hoodies, Champagne said the camera still serves as a deterrent.

Dupont posted “Video Surveillance” signs on his property.According to Champagne, businesses were among the first to recognize how surveillance cameras could be used as deterrent.

“Go back to 20 years ago, when I first came into this business, we had eight bank robberies,” he said. “But can you recall any in the last 10 years? It’s because banks stepped up security, including cameras. We’ve seen a dramatic decline in crime against business. A burglar alarm is fine, but a camera provides information that can lead toward an arrest.”

Communities such as Fashion South Subdivision and the Riverwood Street area also recognized have pooled money to install cameras as at strategic points in the area.

“This is not Big Brother. This is you and you’re just offering that video to us to use,” Champagne said. “I wish we had cameras at all street corners.”

Dupont agreed.

Although his own cameras have not yielded an arrest yet in a recent incident  where they showed two teens apparently ignite fireworks near Dupont’s truck and causing damage, he strongly remains in support of their use.

“I’m just waiting on the next one next time,” he said. “Sooner or later, we’ll get them.”