Around the country, law enforcement agencies have been working with citizens and businesses to help solve crimes with footage from private security cameras.

The Auburn Police Department recently created a volunteer security camera registry. The program asks people to take a few moments to register their home or business security cameras into a database, which can then be utilized when a crime happens in its vicinity.

This registry does not give police departments direct access to the registered cameras and registering is entirely voluntary.

A crime can happen at your home or business, and a camera down the street or blocks away may capture footage of the criminal entering or leaving your neighborhood.

The use of private surveillance camera footage has been used to solve countless criminal cases. Footage captured at a location not actually where the crime was committed can also be incredibly valuable.

Surveillance videos from area businesses were integral in identifying the Boston Bombing suspects. The following year investigators used security cameras to track the movements of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham. After reviewing the footage, police identified a suspect who later pleaded guilty to Graham’s murder.

If you would like to participate in the voluntary security camera registry, all you have to do is enter the location of your camera and contact information. If a crime occurs, law enforcement will reach out to you.

Note: Even if a business’ cameras do not constantly record or only show the inside of a business they can be of use to a business. Recent footage from inside Coastal Farm and Ranch is being used in an effort to identify an individual who stole 15 firearms.

To help solve crimes in your neighborhood, please follow the link to register your camera now.

Auburn Security Camera Registry

https://www.auburnwa.gov/city_hall/police/camera_registry

Need to report a crime?

The Auburn Police Department has an online reporting option. Once you have filed your report online you are provided a case number and copy of the report. If additional information is needed an officer or detective will contact you.

Filing a report online is an ideal option for crimes that are not actively happening and have no known suspect*. These include, but are not limited to:

Your property was taken without your permission
Theft of personal property from vehicle (not vehicle parts or accessories); no known suspects
Prowling around/in a vehicle; no suspects; nothing missing; no vandalism to the vehicle
It is important to report these incidents.
Theft of auto parts or accessories; no known suspects
Identity Theft: fraudulent use of checks, credit cards, financial information, credit, money, goods, services, or anything of value; no known suspects
Unwanted phone calls of an annoying, harassing or threatening nature
Property is missing or lost
Bicycle is stolen; no known suspects
Theft of services
The act of changing, modifying, or defacing/damaging public or private property

*A known suspect is when you or someone else knows the person or where to find the person who committed the crime. Or, you may know the license plate number of the vehicle the suspect(s) were in.

Updated 04/22: added clarification for businesses