CCTV to protect homes from criminals in up-market Cheltenham
RESIDENTS of one of Cheltenham's most up-market areas have started putting in their own CCTV cameras in a bid to protect their homes from break-ins.
At least three cameras have been installed in recent months in Rowena Cade Avenue in The Park. And it has lead to one burglar being captured red-handed.
Keiran Graham, 22, was sentenced to nine months in prison after he pleaded guilty to attempted burglary and admitted to stealing a driving licence.
He was filmed on Toby Doyle's CCTV, with 20-year-old Aneurin Lockey-Pardoe, as they tried to break into the house.
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Residents said they became worried following a series of burglaries in the area over the last year.
Despite costing thousands of pounds to install, more residents in The Park have admitted they would be willing to pay to protect their homes.
One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he had resorted to installing CCTV because of the increasing problems with burglaries and thefts.
He installed CCTV after an attempted break- in.
He said: "Having a young family who were actually traumatised for some time after all of the incidents made us want to do something more than just an alarm system.
"Ensuring our children feel safe in their own home is our top priority. We live in a nice area and work extremely hard to have what we got."
And Corinne Saha said her car had been broken into twice.
She praised the response of police officers but said many people wanted to do more to ensure they were safe.
She said: "We get all sorts of problems with people breaking into houses and cars.
"I have thought about putting up CCTV, especially if the problem gets worse. My concern is I have got three young children to look after. The police have been quick to respond to incidents though."
Councillor Rob Garnham (C, Lansdown, Park and Warden Hill) insisted the area was safe despite residents' concerns.
He added: "Everyone has to take precaution when they are going out and we've got to support the police to make sure they are cracking down on these issues. Everyone should stay vigilant in making sure their houses are locked.
"It is important, because some of these cul-de-sacs might be overlooked."
CCTV kits can start at a couple of hundred pounds, but a more sophisticated system would cost about £2,000.
Comments
by luke10812
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 1:28PM
“IsitJimKerr - the PCSO is talking absolute rubbish. Complete twaddle. You are perfectly entitled, legally, to have CCTV filming public areas from your own house.. Of course you are! There is no law at all that even suggests she is half right.”
by luke10812
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 1:26PM
“IsitJimKerr - the PCSO is talking absolute rubbish. Complete twaddle. You are perfectly entitled, legally, to have CCTV filming public areas from your own house.. Of course you are! There is no law at all that even suggests she is half right.”
by Walker100
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 12:08PM
“IsitJimKerr, she was only half right. Anyone with CCTV covering an area of public space should advertise who is the controller of the CCTV and make footage available to anyone IF they request footage that contains images of them.
However, IF the footage also contains images of others and not just the person making the request in isolation then you can lawfully refuse to grant access to the footage.”
by IsitJimKerr
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 8:58AM
“This can be a mine-field.
When I had some vandalism, I spoke to my PCSO, about CCTV.
She said I couldn't have the cameras covering a public space!
I said, 'OK, you keep a 24/7 vigil outside my house, and we'll all be ok. Plus' I said 'how come all the CCTV used in Crimewatch is from business's own CCTV systems that cover their property and some public areas?' She shut up.
But you can get very good systems quite cheap. £500 should get a good night-time system.”
by Walker100
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 8:14AM
“At a couple of hundred pounds you will get a system that has poor picture quality, probably records in Mpeg4 rather that H264 so the hard drive will last hardly anytime at all and will likely be infra-red rather than true "night vision". Not worth the money. Compare and contrast recent pics posted on TiG. Most are worse than useless but some (tending to be the ones from bookmakers!) are excellent.”