Two months ago, a new motorcycle went missing from a small lane at S.B. Nagar in Thirumullaivoyal. A few hours after it was stolen, the bike was traced and restored to its owner.
The Thirumullavoyal police clear the case on the same day, thanks to CCTV cameras installed by a resident, Padmanaban, in front of his house in Lalithambal Nagar. Two youngsters from neighbouring Puzhal had committed the crime, and the CCTV footage enabled the police to nab them easily.
The resident whose CCTV cameras helped crack the crime in next to no time, has an interesting fact to share.
“The idea to install the cameras at my house came from Venketachalam Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association. They encouraged me to install CCTV cameras for better security,” says Padmanaban.
In that region, Venketachalam Nagar is turning out to be a model neighbourhood for security awareness and protectiveness.
Venketachalam Nagar has a population of around 650 families, and most of its 18 streets and the main road are covered by CCTV cameras.
These cameras are integrated with a central monitoring system that has been established at the house of one of the members of Venketachalam Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association.
What is significant is that this residents' welfare association is willing to share what they know about CCTV cameras-enabled security, with other associations.
Already, residents from adjoining neighbourhoods, which include SVT Nagar, Subramaniya Nagar, Thendral Nagar East, Masilamani Nagar, Lalithaammbal Nagar and Velammal New Town have been visiting Venketachalam Nagar to learn about installing a cost-effective but effective CCTV-cameras network for neighbourhood security.
Based on requests from neighbouring residents associations, special sessions are also held at Venketachalam Nagar, mainly during weekends on various aspects of an effective surveillance system.
The local police are also roped in to clear any doubts regarding neighbourhood surveillance systems, which include getting the permission from the police for effecting such installations, says Giri Ravanan, Secretary, Venketachalam Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association.