Salt Rock’s big brother

Salt Rock residents can rest easy knowing that the CCTV cameras that watch over the area have not been permanently removed.

The cameras, which were put up by IPSS Security for the Salt Rock Neighbourhood Watch (SRNW), have been watching over the area for three years.

IPSS handles the monitoring of the cameras, but signal problems at their current location meant they had to be removed.

According to IPSS Security managing director Frank Labidi, the cameras are getting some TLC before they are put up once again. SRNW chairman Martin Parry said the cameras would be put up at the entrance to Salt Rock. They will be connected to an ADSL line sponsored by IPSS and will cover the main road running into Salt Rock.

The cameras were installed in October 2010 and both Parry and Labidi highlighted the efficacy of the surveillance. “We have been able to trace vehicles after breakins and robberies.

After an incident we look at the footage and check for vehicles leaving the area,” said Parry.

“We went for very expensive cameras. They can even pick up number plates when it is dark, which is really helpful.”

Labidi echoed these sentiments.

“You could see a drastic drop in crimes like theft of motor vehicles when the cameras went up. The footage has resulted in many arrests and we recovered two hi-jacked vehicles within the first few weeks of installation,” said Labidi.

He also believes participation from the community is key to reducing crime.

“The biggest problem is complacency. The second biggest problem is the lack of “togetherness” in our community itself. When crime is up, neighbourhood watch meetings are well attended and we have an article or two in the newspapers. When crime is down, neighbourhood watch meetings are not well attended and we have no articles in the newspapers,” he said.

The date that the CCTV cameras will be put up again is still to be confirmed. “We are only waiting for an ADSL line to be installed,” said Labidi.