USA TODAY International Edition
Doorbell camera videos capture dilemma
Police want to be told ahead of social media
DETROIT – As doorbell cameras and other smart home surveillance systems become more common, experts are urging homeowners: Don’t rush to post that video of the suspected burglar on your front porch until you’ve talked to police.
“We like to be notified first so we can start our investigation prior to the public starting their investigation,” said Matt Koehn, public safety director in Berkley, Michigan.
An uptick in interest in home security systems, particularly affordable and easy-to-monitor doorbell cameras, and social media platforms, such as Nextdoor and Facebook, make it easier than ever for homeowners to share videos and photos of suspicious activities in their neighborhoods.
But authorities warn that what gets posted on social media may not be accurate and can create unnecessary hysteria, particularly if an arrest has already been made that the public doesn’t know about.
And in some instances, people may be falsely accusing someone of a crime when that person had a legitimate reason for being on their porch.
Police Lt. Keith Spencer of Royal Oak, Michigan, said home security systems can “help tremendously,” with officers looking for video to review and glean information to aid in their investigations.
But people posting on social media or social networks first – or not even notifying police, Spencer said – “has complicated cases sometimes.”
Police Lt. Mike Burrough of Northville Township, Michigan, said while police monitor social media, they want to be contacted if a crime occurs so they can investigate.
Burrough said security video of suspicious activity shared with authorities is helpful for investigators. “There’s a lot of evidence that can be recovered from video,” he said.
Shawn Thornton of Ferndale, Michigan, said he provided police with footage from his home security cameras of two people trying to break into his locked truck in his driveway in the middle of the night about a month ago. He didn’t post the video on social media, but said he likes that the exterior cameras, purchased for about $300, may be a deterrent or help police catch possible criminals.
“I figure it’s better than nothing,” he said.
Law enforcement authorities also can share video or information from the recordings with police in neighboring communities or counties.
While home security footage can be helpful to police, posting it online can create problems, including quick assumptions, the potential of retaliation and hindering an investigation.
“The police are careful about identifying someone as a suspect,” said Peter Henning, a Wayne State University law professor and former federal prosecutor. But if a person posts a video or photo saying someone committed a crime when they didn’t, “it could be defamatory.”