Woman threatened after installing CCTV to deter thieves

A St Andrew woman's attempt to secure her property by installing CCTV cameras around her house has resulted in her being harassed and threatened by a man who has branded her an “informer” and is demanding that she remove the cameras.

The woman, who requested anonymity out of fear for her life, said she had the cameras installed four years ago to deter thieves from stealing the produce planted on her property after both her watch dogs were poisoned.

However, she said since then, the man, who operates a mechanic shop close to where she lives, has been constantly verbally assaulting her.

Her fear is amplified as she lives alone with her adult daughter, the 63-year-old woman said.

The scared woman said she made numerous reports to the police, her latest being in December last year when the man gave her a January deadline to remove the cameras.

But she said whenever the police visited her residence and warned the man, he only became more emboldened.

“Each time they come and as they gone, he comes and he makes more threats … . ‘Hey, gyal! Yuh nuh hear mi seh yuh fi tek dung di camera Nuh camera cya stay deh suh’,” she said. “He was able to tell that he sees every time I go, and every time I come.”

Frustrated

She said she was told that the man is reportedly of unsound mind, but she is not convinced. Rather, she is frustrated that the cameras she installed to improve her security have now led to her feeling more unsafe in her home.

Deputy Superintendent Randy Sweeney, divisional commander of the St Andrew North Police Division, confirmed that reports have been made to the Constant Spring police, and efforts have been made to locate the man involved.

“Under normal circumstances, when someone is threatened, the usual procedure or action is that the suspect is warned for them not to carry out their action and that the complainant take out a summons and take them before the court,” he said.

The woman said she has not yet taken out a summons against the man who has been threatening her.

In the meantime, security expert Robert Finzi-Smith told The Gleaner that as more Jamaicans install cameras at home in response to the country’s high crime rate, it can also have the effect of making them targets.

He noted, however, that such incidents are more common in inner-city communities where the people who install cameras are labelled ‘informers’.

Finzi-Smith is urging people who install cameras around their homes to be more discreet.

“The proper way to set up camera is have a camera watch a camera. [You] can’t mess with one camera without being recorded on another,” he said.

Sashana Small