ANTIOCH — Surveillance cameras that were recently installed in a high-crime area appear to be doing their job, says Antioch’s top cop.
In presenting council members with an update on the improvement at their meeting on Aug. 8, Antioch Police Chief Tammany Brooks noted that the new technology at East 18th Street and Cavallo Road was installed about six weeks ahead of schedule and on budget.
As of July 26, the three cameras — which came with a $37,829 price tag — were up and running.
“That area desperately needed that technology,” Brooks said.
Last year, police logged no fewer than 431 crimes in that area that either were violent or usually associated with violence, such as narcotics use and prostitution.
To date, the images have enabled police to recover six stolen vehicles — the first within two hours of the cameras being installed, he said as audience members applauded.
If the devices don’t make people think twice before committing a crime, they’ll come in handy after the fact, Brooks said.
“It will certainly be an invaluable piece of evidence to help us apprehend and prosecute the offenders.”
