WASCO, Calif. — To prevent crime, the Kern County Sheriff's Office is asking residents and business owners to be the eyes and ears of our community by registering with their camera registry program.
"When an accident occurs, we don't have to go through neighborhoods and stores to see who has cameras," Sheriff Donny Youngblood said.
The program rolled out at the end of August, and with 32 different cameras inside and outside capturing every angle of the Wasco Market, Balwinder Joshan who is the store manager said it has helped his customers feel protected.
"There was a hit and run in the parking lot and we recorded the video for them and that followed up for them and lead to the crime," Joshan said. "Our cameras are recording all around the parking lot and the building."
The camera registry program requires you to register online. Providing information such as your name, address, and the type of surveillance camera that you own is required.
Registering for KCSO's program is voluntary.
"When you call and report that theft we then go to the camera registry and see if anyone has cameras in that vicinity so that we can go ask them if we can have the video for prosecution purposes," Sheriff Youngblood said.
The sheriff's office said those that register will only be contacted if a crime happens within the area.
"It's simply a tool that law enforcement is using technology to help us solve crimes," Sheriff Youngblood said.
For more information on KCSO's camera registry program, click here.
