SafeCam, the Police Department‘s internal database of private security cameras, has helped solve 85 crimes since January, Metro reported that the department announced. The database has also led to 37 arrests, according to the report.
The Police Department does not have direct access to the 360 SafeCam-registered cameras. Instead, officers contact civilians if a crime occurred near one of the cameras. The program is essentially a way for cops to know what kind of footage exists.
When the program began in 2011, about 80 cameras were registered. That number has since more than tripled.
Similarly, SEER Interactive and VideoSurveillance.com launched CommunityCam, a crowdsourced map of security cameras.
Video footage has proved effective in policing: Philly cops have a one in three chance of making an arrest if they have video footage of a suspect and no other lead.
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