Crooks May Be Caught on Tape in Yorba Linda

In what could become the most ambitious program of its kind in the state, Brea police are considering setting up surveillance cameras outside liquor stores and banks in the city to help track robbery suspects.

Alarmed by the large number of home burglaries in the eastern end of Yorba Linda, Councilman Gene Wisner first proposed placing cameras at several key intersections to record suspects’ vehicles and license plate numbers.

“I just want these (criminals) to know if they come into Yorba Linda, they’re on ‘Candid Camera,’ ” Wisner said.

A spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union warned, however, that if cameras were operated on a 24-hour basis and photographed innocent people in addition to crime suspects, such a practice could violate privacy law.

Photography has been used in Pasadena for four years to nab speeding motorists, and state agencies plan to use cameras to catch car-pool-lane violators. Pasadena’s program has survived several legal challenges, although state Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier) has introduced a bill that would prevent use of photo radar as evidence in court because the ticket was not presented to the driver at the time of the violation.

Wisner said his intent is to catch and deter criminals, not speeders. If the city does implement such a system, it may be the first in the state to use cameras outside of banks and liquor stores to identify crime suspects, said Lt. Bill Lentini of the Brea Police Department, which provides police services to Yorba Linda.

“It’s innovative,” Lentini said. “We’re just extrapolating on the technology.”

City officials are still exploring the cost of camera equipment and ways it could be used. The city also plans within a month to set up and test some equipment provided by the Canon company, Lentini said.

Lentini said Canon has equipment that takes “extremely clear pictures” on videotape and provides still photographs of certain frames in a matter of seconds. A dry-film developing system allows quick photos, Lentini said.

The cameras could be kept on 24 hours or activated remotely after a crime is reported, Lentini said.

City Atty. Leonard Hampel said that as long as only vehicles and license plates are photographed, the system would not violate privacy laws.

Patricia Herzog, a volunteer lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, agreed but warned that the city could invade privacy if the cameras run continuously and photograph innocent people.

Lentini acknowledged that the cameras may not lead to many arrests, but he and Wisner said their use may help deter crime.

Wisner’s concern about crime was echoed by Councilman John M. Gullixson, who said he was particularly worried that certain crimes are not even being reported.

Gullixson said he heard that three eighth-grade boys walking to a sandwich shop off Lakeview Avenue and Yorba Linda Boulevard were beaten up by a group of older teen-agers in broad daylight earlier this month. The young victims didn’t report the assault, so police can’t identify possible suspects, Gullixson said.

“The kids were scared to death and didn’t even get a license number,” Gullixson said. “I’m concerned the kids are not being schooled to get license numbers, and residents need to know to be aggressive and report the crimes.”