Dilworth Takes Security A Step Further Than Cameras

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Dilworth man is taking security cameras one step further to protect people from criminals.

“You’re on camera, and someone’s watching you and doing something about it,” said Byron Revels.

In the past year, CMPD says crime there escalated from breaking into cars monthly, to breaking into homes, to attackers targeting women on the street.

A lot of people in the neighborhood already have cameras that capture anyone who comes close to their homes. Problem is, they are asleep when the alerts come through on the phone warning them someone is intruding.

Some criminals are not even deterred, knowing police likely are not on the way.

“You have to have real people,” said Revels.

Revels hired five people to monitor customers’ cameras from 10:00 pm until 6:00 am. He calls the company VigilSight.

If the monitors see anything weird, they call CMPD.

Revels says CMPD knows about his company and will send officers to the scene.

“We get the highest priority designation for response times. As opposed to a traditional security system where you get the lowest priority designation because it’s a false alarm 99 percent of the time,” said Revels.

Another neighbor, Lance, helps his neighbors install cameras for free.

“If you’re on my block, and all my neighbors are properly lit up, they have security cameras, they have proper signage, etc., you know, the criminals going to be less like to, not just do something to my house or my vehicles or my family but less likely to do it to my block,” said Lance.

Residents teaming up hope it catches on in other neighborhoods.

“Its a great solution for neighborhoods that have been suffering from, you know, higher levels of crime for a while because we now can make known in the community to the criminals that you’re on camera and someone’s watching you and doing something about it,” said Revels.

One thing you can do immediately is call 311 and ask them to update your street light to the brighter LED lights. The city is going to do it anyway, but you can accelerate the process by calling it in.