How often are you watched? Surveillance cameras popping up

Over the past two weeks, police in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City have released surveillance video to try and catch people responsible for vandalism.

“The quality is such an important feature,” said Sgt. Christy Hamblin of the Cedar Rapids Police Department on Wednesday, one day after police announced the arrest of three males, between the ages of 17 and 21, for damage to Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids.

On Tuesday morning, police in Iowa City, through the department's website, put out a two-minute surveillance video of three people spraying a wall at the Iowa City Public Library. The video has an imprint of April 25.

Now that camera technology has reached the low price point where many business owners and home owners can afford the extra set of “eyes”, security expert Eric Holub said more and more cameras are popping up.

“In retail and convienence stores, it makes a big difference,” said Holub, owner of Premier Security in Cedar Rapids. “The quality of cameras over the past five or six years is phenomenal.”

Holub said a six-camera setup that the owner can operate through a laptop from a remote location runs only about $800.

Yet Holub also contends technical knowledge and the ability to purchase quality will make a difference.

“A camera is only as good as the recording and as good as the person watching it,” said Holub.

Surveillance cameras record so many moments of our daily lives. Some of those are expected, such as being in a bank, gas station, casino or anywhere cash is exchanged. Others are less likely but have been publicized, such as the speed enforcement and red light cameras throughout Cedar Rapids.

Cameras can be found protecting all sorts of assets now, from the fronts of buildings to even garbage dumpsters, as a deterrent for people leaving trash in them under the cover of night.

“The only reason I would ever put a camera on my dumpster is because people are coming and filling my dumpster,” said Holub. “It is an added expense for small businesses. It's another way to protect your property.”

Hamblin said, far too often, when the police are called for a burglary or robbery, the owner will tell investigators they got it all on tape.

“There are times we can't use it as evidence because of poor quality,” said Hamblin. “We are holding our breath, waiting to see what quality it is.”

As for trying to find surveillance cameras in downtown Cedar Rapids, Holub said to look at the banks, parking lots and parkade. He said, compared with larger cities, this downtown is not overrun with spying eyes just yet.