Police: Old Town cameras keep an eye on crime
After a month of recording daily life in Old Town, the Bluffton Police Department said it has solved cases by catching criminals on the new candid cameras.
The department's 22 public safety security cameras, which cost nearly $100,000, were unveiled Aug. 25 and placed throughout the historic district in the areas of May River Road and Calhoun Street.
In the last month, the cameras have helped clear seven out of eight crimes committed there, Sgt. Joseph Babkiewicz of the Bluffton Police Department said Monday.
The suspects were caught on tape in seven of those crimes -- three burglaries, three assaults and one hit and run, Babkiewicz said.
The eighth, a burglary remains under investigation, he said.
"We solved three buglaries that typically would not have been solved without these cameras," Babkiewicz said. "They just help provide us with additional evidence to support charges against these people."
Compared to the time period in 2014, eight crimes were also committed, but only one solved.
The crimes were similar to those within the last month and included three assaults and one burglary in addition to two thefts from coin machines, one theft from a vehicle and a vandalism report.
The only crime solved from that time period was one of the assaults, Babkiewicz said.
He said the camera footage is reviewed each morning to see if anything was captured that could help a new or existing case.
The purpose of the cameras is to deter crime, provide evidence recovery and monitor crowds during festivals and events, Bluffton Police Chief Joey Reynolds said in August.
"If people know (the cameras) are out there, maybe they'll be more likely to behave themselves," Reynolds said then.
Follow Caitlin Turner on Twitter at twitter.com/Cait_E_Turner.
Related Content:
- Bluffton police unveil Old Town security cameras, Aug. 25, 2015
This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 3:46 PM with the headline "Police: Old Town cameras keep an eye on crime."