Our Positive Impact on Crime Prevention

Since 2005, the video safety cameras monitored by the Lancaster Community Safety Coalition have enhanced law enforcement efforts and served as a deterrent to crime and disorder. LCSC's services have proven to be an invaluable asset to both the community and police. Here is a representative sampling of incidents in which active monitoring and video recordings led to arrests or aided in police investigations.

Theft: A call for suspicious activity was received by the County 911 Call Center. LCSC monitoring staff quickly spotted the suspect who had broken into a couple vehicles and was seen trying to enter others. The Police were quickly alerted and LCSC staff continued to follow the subject until they were stopped by officers. He was found to be wanted for a parole violation and was charged with the vehicle break ins. (November 2009)

Vehicle Theft: LCSC monitoring staff witnessed a subject entering a police “bait vehicle”. The vehicle was driven to a parking lot and the subject exited the vehicle, they spotted the Police and fled into a house. Monitoring staff were able to direct police to the house where he was taken into custody. (June 2009)

Theft: LCSC monitoring staff spotted two subjects in the North East area of the City trying to break into vehicles. They eventually got into one and stole several items. The Police were alerted and they apprehended the subjects two blocks away from where the crime occurred. (May 2009)

Weapons: Police received a call about possible weapons on N. Prince St. A LCSC Camera System Operator alerted police to the house where the suspect had entered. Police apprehended him based on that information and recovered the weapon.  (March 2009)

Drug Dealing: LCSC monitoring staff assisted Police with working details targeting drug dealing in a particular area. Video has proved useful in obtaining an arrest warrant for one suspect. (January 2009)

Domestic Violence: LCSC monitoring staff responded to a call for a domestic. LCSC staff heard that the suspect had left the residence and was spotted almost immediately in the area. The subjects whereabouts were reported and Police were able to apprehend him. He was found to have outstanding warrants and charges were also filed for the domestic. (January 2009)

Hit and Run: County 911 dispatched a vehicle description for a hit and run accident in the 100 block of Howard Ave. LCSC monitoring staff spotted this vehicle a short time later in the 400 block of North Queen St. and alerted the county. Police were able to catch up with the vehicle and charge the driver with the accident. (June 2008)

Warrant: LCSC monitoring staff spotted a suspect rolling a marijuana cigarette on the porch of a vacant house in the 400 block of Beaver St. This was called in to County 911 Dispatch. The suspect walked from the area and was spotted a short time later in the 300 block of South Queen. Police were directed to the location and the suspect was found to have a pending warrant for weapons from the Northwest Regional Police Dept. (June 2008)

Fire: LCSC cameras caught a house fire on the 800 block of N Prince Street. LSCS monitoring staff sent live video to County 911 Dispatch. (Click here for photos) Dispatch was able to convey the sense of urgency and dispatch the appropriate Police and Fire department personnel. The Bureau of Fire requested a video of the house fire to be used for training purposes. (June 2008)

Copper Theft: Video from LCSC was provided in the ongoing investigations of thefts of copper from the old Lancaster Press building on West Lemon Street. LCSC staff and a detective observed two suspects entering the vacant building. The building was surrounded by police and the suspects were arrested. (May 2008)

Warrant: County 911 Dispatch broadcasted a call for vandalism in the early morning hours in the 100 block of South Queen Street. LCSC monitoring staff spotted the suspects going down an alley and to the rear of the property. Police were able to locate the suspects based on information provided by the LCSC, which led to the arrest of one suspect on an outstanding warrant. (May 2008)

Disturbance: County 911 Dispatch broadcasted a disturbance call from the management of the Prince of Subs restaurant. LCSC monitoring staff observed the suspects leaving the area and were able to direct Police to the suspects. (May 2008)

Accident: LCSC reviewed video footage and were able to provide video to aid in the investigation of the collision at West King and South Water Streets involving a police cruiser and minivan. The camera showed that the minivan ran the red light and collided with the police cruiser. (May 2008)

Accident: LCSC monitoring staff reviewed video of a vehicle accident at the corner of North Duke and East Orange Streets. Both parties claimed to have the right of way. Video was able to determine clearly who was at fault saving numerous hours of police investigative time. (April 2008)

Drug Related Crime: Information provided to police from observations made led police to conduct several details using LCSC cameras. The details resulted in the arrest of several suspects for drug related crimes. (February 2008)

Shots Fired: LCSC monitoring staff was aware of shots fired in the Northeast. A suspect was spotted in the area with gun. Police were notified and the suspect was taken into custody. This incident happened in close proximity to Ross Elementary School. (March 2008)

Intoxication: County 911 Dispatch broadcasted a call regarding a person who was very intoxicated and trying to get into a car and drive. The suspect fled the area. The LCSC monitoring staff found the suspect and directed police to his location. The suspect was arrested. (January 2008)

Reckless Driving: County 911 Dispatch broadcasted a call on the scanner for a reckless driver on Harrisburg Avenue. LSCS staff spotted him on East Chestnut turning North on Lime. He was later spotted by LCSC at North Queen and East Frederick. The suspect was observed pointing a handgun out the window of the vehicle. LCSC monitoring staff called County 911 Dispatch and police were able to stop the suspect two blocks later and found the gun in his possession. The suspect was charged with firing a handgun, reckless endangerment, and illegal possession of a handgun. (January 2008)

Fight: County 911 Dispatch broadcasted a fight call for the 300 block of Beaver Street. It resulted in the arrests of two suspects. Video evidence of the fight was supplied to the police. (January2008)

Fight: County 911 dispatch broadcasted a fight and burglary call in the 400 block of Beaver Street. The suspect left the area but LCSC monitoring staff later spotted the suspect in the 200 block of South Prince Street and notified Police. The suspect was apprehended. (January 2008)

Reckless Driver with a Handgun:  A citizen notified County Dispatch of a reckless driver on Harrisburg Avenue. LCSC Monitoring Staff followed the vehicle for more than eight blocks, observed the driver holding a handgun, and notified County Dispatch. Video was pushed to County Dispatch and the responding officers were informed of the gun prior to stopping the vehicle on North Queen Street. Officers responded with guns drawn and arrested the driver. (January 2008)

Auto Theft:  Video proved useful in three cases within two weeks involving recovered stolen vehicles. Recorded video revealed when the vehicles were abandoned and in each case the video showed suspects leaving the vehicles. Video recordings were turned over to the Lancaster Bureau of Police Auto Theft Unit for use in the ongoing investigation. (December 2007)

Theft from Vehicle:  A resident reported a theft from a vehicle on the 200 block of North Shippen Street, just beyond the view of an LCSC camera. A suspect matching the description was stopped by police at an intersection more than four blocks from the scene of the crime. Video footage from an LCSC camera on North Shippen Street captured the suspect fleeing the scene of the crime. Police reviewed the video and placed the suspect under arrest. (December 2007)

911 Hang Up Call:  A 911 hang up call from a pay phone on West King Street resulted in the arrest of a subject on a bench warrant. Immediately after the call was placed, LCSC monitoring staff focused the camera on the pay phone, observed two suspects walking away from the phone, notified County Dispatch, and directed police to the suspects. Video recordings showed one suspect making the call. (December 2007)

Drug Use in Progress:  Monitoring staff notified County Dispatch of open container violations and one person smoking a suspected crack pipe on South Queen Street. The suspects left the area in a vehicle and were promptly stopped by the police and charged. (October 2007)

Driving Under the Influence:  A citizen notified County Dispatch of a reckless driver on
South Arch Street. Monitoring staff followed the vehicle and updated police with its location as they were en route to the call. Police stopped the vehicle, administered a field sobriety test, and arrested the suspect for driving under the influence of alcohol. To support the charge, LCSC supplied police with video footage of the suspect driving without lights and driving over a curb and coverage of the field sobriety test. (October 2007)

Drug Possession with Intent to Deliver: Monitoring staff made a call to police regarding drug use in progress. This led the police to find 77 bags of heroin and arrest a suspect for drug possession with intent to deliver. (October 2007)

Theft: A gym bag with keys was stolen from someone playing softball at Conlin Field. The suspect returned with the keys and unsuccessfully attempted to steal the vehicle. Upon review of the video, the suspect was spotted on several cameras and he went into an address in the 100 block of South Prince Street. Monitoring staff notified police that the suspect and another individual entered a condemned building. Police arrived and charged both subjects with felony trespass and confirmed that one individual was the suspect from the earlier theft. (September 2007)

Aid & Assist Police:  Two calls were placed to police for a sick person in the 100 block of South Prince Street and an assault at Lime & Chestnut Street. Monitoring staff located the victims with the cameras and directed officers to the exact location of the victims, expediting police response. (August 2007)

Aid & Assist Police: Monitoring staff was advised by County Dispatch to use the cameras to search for a vehicle that was being followed by City Police Detectives for being driven without consent of the owner. The vehicle was spotted and followed until detectives were able to successfully stop it. The suspect was arrested at the scene. (July 2007)
 
Aid Investigation: Police were called several times for disturbances on the 400 block of South Duke Street. The last call was for a person with a knife and a group at the location involved in a dispute. The subject placed the knife inside of the home before police arrived at the scene and detained the suspect. Monitoring staff provided video to the police showing the suspect with the knife to support investigation. (July 2007)
 
Expedite Police Response: A citizen called County Dispatch to report harassment by a subject who was leaving the scene on the first block of South Lime Street. Monitoring staff quickly found the suspect and provided live video of the suspect. The dispatcher directed police to the suspect for questioning. (July 2007)

Assault: LCSC monitoring staff reported a fight between two females outside a local bar. They separated before police arrived and one was seen touching her face, getting into a vehicle, and leaving the area. A few minutes later County Dispatch received a call from Lancaster General Hospital regarding a woman whose face had been slashed. Police responded to the call, took the report, and reviewed the video at LCSC. They were able to confirm that it was the same person and file charges. Video recordings were provided to police for identification. (May 2007)

Homicide: A homicide occurred more than five blocks away from the nearest camera. However, LCSC video evidence greatly enhanced the investigation by supporting the testimony of a coconspirator. The suspect car was recorded traveling through five intersections across the city prior to the incident. (May 2007)

Vandalism: Cameras recorded two juveniles on their way home from school breaking windows. The following day, an officer was positioned around the corner from the incident just after school closed, awaiting the return of the suspects. The juveniles broke two more windows and were greeted by a member of the mounted police. (April 2007)

Homicide: LCSC monitoring staff reported a disturbance with a large group of people and predicted that a fight would ensue. Police were dispatched to the scene. Approximately four minutes later, LCSC observed a fatal shooting and notified County-Wide Communications. The suspect fled into a nearby house. Already in route to the scene, police arrived 22 seconds after the shooting. LCSC directed police to the correct house. Police secured the perimeter of the home and extracted and arrested the suspected shooter. Live monitoring and video recordings proved useful in placing the police on the scene promptly and supporting the investigation. (March 2007)

Sexual Assault: A repeat sexual offender assaulted and attempted to rape a minor.
Monitoring staff observed the suspect approach the victim prior to the incident. The assault occurred just outside of the view of LCSC cameras. Video recordings were instrumental to police in the identification and arrest of the suspect. (March 2007)

Auto Theft: A man was observed by LCSC attempting to open vehicle doors. He then broke into a car, hotwired it, and drove off. Police were notified while the event was in progress. Police spotted and stopped the stolen vehicle several blocks away from the incident. The suspect attempted to flee the scene but was caught by police and was arrested within 31 minutes of LCSC's call to dispatch. Video footage helped police with the accurate identification of the stolen vehicle and the suspect. (July 2006)

Assault: A group of youg teenagers was observed harassing an elderly man. One of the teens assaulted the man. Police were immediately notified by LCSC while incident was in progress. The suspects fled the scene. The video recordings provided an accurate account of the assault and were used by the Lancaster Bureau of Police School Resource Officers to positively identify the individuals. The assailant was arrested, which substantially dissolved the gang activity at the park that they once terrorized. (April 2006)

Drug Dealing in School Zone: LCSC alerted police to suspected drug dealing directly across the street from an elementary school. The collaborative effort of the monitoring staff and police resulted in the arrest of both a buyer and a dealer within 30 minutes. (November 2006)

Burglary: A man with a crow bar was spotted trying to open the window of a store on the corner of East King & South Lime Street. LCSC monitoring staff called dispatch and advised them of the incident and which direction the suspect was traveling. Police recognized that this method of entry was consistent with a series of recent commercial burglaries and dispatched officers to the scene. Within ten minutes there was a call for an alarm at another store at 113 West King Street. The police arrived, found the suspect hiding in a closet, and made the arrest. The suspect’s accomplice was also arrested. After reviewing video footage, police confirmed that it was the same suspect. (October 2006)

"The video safety cameras in Downtown Lancaster, operated by the Lancaster Community Safety Coalition, have
proven to be an important addition to our city’s crime prevention efforts –
and the Lancaster Police Foundation supports their continued use. On
numerous occasions, the Lancaster City Bureau of Police have utilized the extra “eyes on the street” for rapid mobilization, incident prevention, and as important evidence in the successful conviction
of criminals."

Lancaster Police Foundation

"We deal with cases all the time where
we either have no witness or have
witnesses who are reluctant to come forward. Now, the camera can be the witness; and we find that if witnesses
know [an incident] is on camera, their reluctance decreases. They know they're not going to be the only one to go out
on a limb to identify a suspect.
I have seen in court where someone who seems to be telling the absolute truth,
but the cameras tell a different story.
It's difficult to change what's
on that tape."

Lancaster County District Attorney
Craig Stedman

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