La Crosse police benefiting from more residents buying home surveillance systems

Most businesses in the La Crosse area have security cameras, to reduce crime or help catch the perpetrator after the fact.

What’s changed recently according to La Crosse Police Captain Jason Melby is the amount of private homes that have security.

And they’re not just protecting themselves.

“They’re catching crimes and they’re catching things that aren’t even happening on their own property, and they’re helping out their neighbors by keeping an eye out,” Melby said.

Shortly before the new year, the La Crosse Police Department was made aware of a tip that a person was seen on home surveillance walking down the street with an amazon package.

He had stolen it from a porch and he was eventually charged.

Melby said it’s just another aspect of the police-public partnership needed to keep the community safe.

“We’re finding that a lot more citizens have privately owned cameras to protect their residence and property,” Melby said. “We’re getting those tapes into evidence and it’s helped us solve several cases.”

Melby says the amazing aspect of the home systems is the quality picture that is produced.