A story by The City of Red Deer

Business Upgrading Security with CAPTURE

Red Deer RCMP Staff Sgt. C.J. (Jay) Peden is growing the detachment’s CAPTURE (Community Assisted Policing Through Use of Recorded Evidence) program, a mapping tool and database that allows citizens and business owners to supply their camera locations and contact information to the Red Deer RCMP.

CAPTURE lets RCMP members know where cameras are located, and who to approach to request access to footage that may come in handy during an investigation, such as vehicle identifiers, or physical characteristics of suspects.

One of the first businesses to sign up for CAPTURE was KMS Tools and Equipment and they are requesting that fellow business owners register for the program. KMS opened the doors of its Red Deer location eleven years ago, and today serves roughly 2500 customers per month. Last year, however, the business had an after-hours break-in and had the business been registered with CAPTURE it would have provided RCMP with more information about the suspects.

The break-in incident resulted in KMS increasing its security on site. In addition to signing up for CAPTURE, they have rearranged their security cameras, and added more cameras to the external structure of their building so they now have the entire perimeter and gating on camera.

“One of the ways I know to prevent crime, is to be proactive”, explains Vernon. “I want to be a part of the solution, and CAPTURE is a great start.  We already have the camera system set up for use, if the RCMP can use the footage to help in a case; it’s a win-win. I hope every business in Red Deer takes part.”

“CAPTURE was developed to build a mapping program of security cameras in the community,” explains Staff Sgt. Peden. “Security cameras are an excellent crime prevention tool, and with CAPTURE, we will be able to use cameras to help protect our neighbourhoods and businesses.”

When you join CAPTURE, police will ask for your contact information so they can quickly contact you to view your recordings to help in investigations. By registering your camera, you are taking an active role in deterring crime and assisting the Red Deer RCMP with their overall crime prevention goals in your community. RCMP will not ask for your login information and will never be able to look at your footage without your permission.

“The more people, and especially businesses, who register their cameras with CAPTURE, the more likely we will be to find footage that could lead to us identifying a criminal, finding evidence for an investigation, and making an overall impact in your neighbourhood,” explains Peden.

You can register your security cameras for CAPTURE, and learn more about the program, at https://www.reddeercapture.ca/user/create/registrant.