Police tap into growing number of DIY security systems in suburban homes

POLICE are planning to harness a fast-growing network of suburban spy cameras in the fight against crime.

Home-owners are installing hi-tech DIY security systems for as little as $500 that can be monitored using a tablet or smartphone.

Police say the boom in home-security systems is a potentially invaluable crime-fighting tool.

They are trialling a register of residential CCTV ­cameras to enable them to quickly tap into footage to solve neighbourhood crimes.

Gold Coast police chief Des Lacy said the system was being trialled at Cleveland and he was keen to see it tested on the Glitter Strip.

“CCTV is becoming a ­fantastic tool for us and with the quality of the technology increasing and prices of the systems going down, a lot more people are obtaining them,” Superintendent Lacy said.

“The cameras are getting sophisticated, with the ability to not just see who’s at your front door but who is out in the street. A picture tells a thousand words. And the footage is stored for up to a week before it’s wiped.”

Supt Lacy said having a register of home security systems made it easier for police to access footage.

He said police already used public CCTV cameras and those installed in businesses to solve and deter many crimes.

The Gold Coast City Council operates almost 160 surveillance cameras from Southport to Coolangatta, while more than 400 are being installed on the coast’s new light-rail system.

Council garbage trucks are even fitted with CCTV cameras and footage from one is believed to be evidence in a recent major crime.

Craig Mitchell, co-founder of OzSpy Security Solutions, said monitored home-security systems used to be expensive but sophisticated DIY kits could now be bought for as little as $500.

“I get a text if my alarm goes off and I can quickly see if anyone is inside,” he said.
“DIY home-security systems are definitely becoming a mass market – we are selling hundreds a month,” he said.

“If your house is broken into, the first question police will probably ask is: ‘Do you have CCTV?’.’”

Crime Stoppers Queensland chief executive Trevor O’Hara said CCTV was highly effective.