Story Published:
Jul 21, 2009 at 3:06 PM CST
Story Updated:
Jul 21, 2009 at 3:06 PM CST
SPRINGFIELD – A security camera got video of some criminals – but not at a bank or convenience store. Instead, the camera is part of an increased effort by one homeowner in central Springfield to protect his personal property.
Some residents of the area between Ozarks Technical Community College and Evangel University say it's not the best neighborhood as far as thefts goes. So, after years of having his personal property stolen, Ron Hermann decided to beef up security to see who's stealing from him and to try to help police catch the crooks.
Hermann’s latest video shows a car driving by and, seconds later, two men walking onto his property, leaving with his brand new trailer and dolly.
“What rakes me bad is I just bought the trailer,” said Hermann.
It’s a couple hundred dollars that he might never see again.
“If you put that in stop motion, I can tell you their jaw line and make out the shape of their faces,” he said.
Hermann decided to get these cameras two months ago after thieves drove off with his truck.
“Over the years it's been bad. I lost a scooter, lost a lawn mower,” he said. “I've had to spend thousands of dollars to try to protect what I just got.
He’s tried chains and padlocks before the cameras. Each time he leaves his house, Hermann worries what might happen.
“When we get home, I normally go around and check the yard because I've got kayaks and boats and everything in the back,” he said.
Thanks to the evidence that his electronic eyes captured, he hopes police will find and arrest the criminals.
“I hate having to do this,” Hermann said. “I hate the idea I have to protect my own property with a fence, alarms and guns, and that's what it's coming to.”
Hermann's yard is a fenced-in fortress, another security measure he just added. He also wants another set of cameras and a infrared system with beams that will set off an audio alarm.
Hermann decided to take all these measures instead of just reporting the thefts to police because, with the shortage of city officers, he says he wasn't having much success with that method.
The Springfield Police Department says each detective has an average caseload of 25 reports, so there's still a bit of backlog. Officers say the video evidence can help them but it may take some time before they can get to work on Hermann's case.
