Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Crime and deterrence. Video cameras in Bexley.



In a recent broadcast interview with Bexley police chief Larry Rinehart, Bexley Public Radio senior correspondent John Matuszak asked about property theft in Bexley. The chief reported that during calendar year 2008, there were more than six hundred property thefts in Bexley. In the Monday morning Dispatch newspaper, the chief is quoted as describing Bexley as "a city in peril" because of this property crime.

A two hundred dollar bicycle stolen from a Bexley garage isn't a peril for the city but the editorial collective understands the chief's point.

Six hundred thefts, mostly petty thefts, is a large number for sure but not significantly different from the property crime frequencies in Dublin, Gahanna, Upper Arlington, Westerville and Worthington.

For sure, the dollar value of stolen Bexley property is greater than these other suburbs because, well, it's a matter of quality and taste.

Sperling’s Best Places publishes crime rates in American cities on a scale of one (low) to ten. Dublin, Gahanna, Upper Arlington, Westerville and Worthington are rated at eight and Bexley alone is rated at nine. Still all of these communities including Bexley are in the same fourth statistical quartile.

If the average theft involves stolen property valued at $500, there is an economic impact of $300,000 each year on Bexley residents. If the average is $2,000, then the impact is $1.2 million. If damage to door frames and windows averages $1,100, there is an additional $660,000 in economic loss to residents in the community.

Those dollar amounts help to set a range for how much money might be spent prudently to respond to the problem of property theft.

Equipment needs might be eighteen network digital recorders (at $900 each), one thousand infra-red digital night video cameras ($700 each), connecting cables for each camera and installation ($350 each) for a total of $1,066,800. Operations, staffing and repairs will add another $180,000 each year. AEP, Verizon and AT&T will want some compensation when the best camera location is on a utility pole.

Bexley police chief Larry Rinehart is promoting the formation of neighborhood block-watch teams in response to the number of property crimes suffered by Bexley residents.

The Bexley Public Radio editorial collective wonders whether neighborhood block-watch volunteers can be assisted by video cameras.

Currently, video cameras are used in some Bexley retail stores, banks and residences.  Should video cameras be installed in all commercial locations in Bexley? Should video cameras be required at all residences?

Should the city install cameras in all of the alleys and along all of the streets?

How should installation be prioritized? Does the Bexley police department analyze property theft by location? Does the police department know which neighborhoods have the highest frequency of property theft? Should frequency of theft be used to prioritize installation?

Does the police department know how many businesses and residences use video cameras? Does the police department have a map of Bexley that shows what views are currently recorded. Banks, CVS and carry-out convenience sores obviously use video cameras currently.

Should Bexley adopt saturation coverage by digital video cameras as part of its response to unacceptable levels of property theft?

Do Bexley residents really want video cameras recording vehicular and pedestrian movement in the neighborhoods? What happens to privacy in our neighborhoods? Is this too much a Big Brother proposal?

Who should own the cameras, computers and discs recording digital data? Should the city own them?. Should the property insurers that carry the property risks in Bexley own the equipment? Should a Bexley property owner cooperative be formed to own the equipment? Should ownership be on a block by block basis?

Installing video cameras everywhere in Bexley sounds like a good stimulus public infra-structure program.

Listener thoughts are welcome. Email to wcrxlp@yahoo.com.

Contribute to Bexley Public Radio now!!!

This WCRX-LP editorial collective comment was first published February 15, 2009.

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation or WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Editorial collective.

Editor's note.  In the six years since this report was broadcast on WCRX-LP the use of video cameras and other security devices in Bexley residences has sky-rocketed.

Volunteers needed for radio productions.

WCRX-LP, Bexley Public Radio has production opportunities for six students (college-age) seeking production and performance experience. 

Call (614) 235-2929 for additional information.

Bexley Comedy Writers Guild meeting set for Monday.

Bexley Comedy Writers Guild meeting set for Monday, May 4, 2015 at 3:30 p.m.  Location of the meeting will be announced on the blog "Agent of Currency:.the Thursday prior to May 4.  Admission is $28.00.  Cash only with an ID, namely passport or drivers license.

CPAC meeting set for May 4, 2015

WCRX-LP Community Programming Advisory Community (CPAC)meeting at Bexley Public Radio set for 4:30 p.m., Monday, May 4, 2015.

The meeting location will be announced on the prior Friday morning to individuals who RSVP by the prior Thursday.

Community residents are welcome. 

Admission is $5.00 per person.

Cash, check, money order and ID.

Please RSVP to wcrxlp@yahoo.com no later than the Thursday prior to the meeting.

WCRX-LP Community Programming Advisory Committee is a public  committee of
Bexley Public Radio Foundation
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209

Thursday, January 29, 2015

WCRX-LP Ohio Public Media Cooperative meeting set for May 4, 2015.

Ohio Public Media Cooperative committee meeting set for 4:00 p.m., Monday May 4, 2015.  Meeting location will be provided to individuals who RSVP by Thursday prior to the scheduled meeting date.  RSVP by email to wcrxlp@yahoo.com.  Provide drivers license or other photo ID for admission.  $10.00 admission fee..

CPAC meeting set for March 2, 2015

WCRX-LP Community Programming Advisory Community meeting at Bexley Public Radio set for 4:30 p.m., Monday, March 2, 2015.

The meeting location will be announced on the prior Friday morning to individuals who RSVP by the prior Thursday.

Community residents are welcome. 

Admission is $5.00 per person.

Cash, check, money order and ID.

Please RSVP to wcrxlp@yahoo.com no later than the Thursday prior to the meeting.

WCRX-LP Community Programming Advisory Committee is a public  committee of
Bexley Public Radio Foundation
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209

Friday, January 9, 2015

Final call. Community Programing Advisory Committee survey of residents.

The 2014 survey of residents programming preferences was distributed on December 18 and 19, 2014.   The survey form was delivered to one hundred sixty five addresses in south Bexley and central Bexley.

Deadline for being included in the tabulation of programming preferences is February 28.

Postage-paid return envelopes were included in the survey distribution.

Residents who wish to be included in the survey, can request a copy of a blank form by calling the station at 235-2929.

A survey report by the Community Programming Advisory Committee will be available after April 15, 2015.  Pre-publication, the report can be purchased for $38.  After April 15, 2015, the price of the report is $52.

Order the report from:

Bexley Public Radio  Foundation
2700 E Main St Studio 208
Columbus, OH  43209

Voice (614) 235-2929.

Pay Pal account on this blog may also be used to order the report.