TOMS RIVER – Imagine you are a police officer. There was a report of someone breaking into cars in a neighborhood late at night. No one saw them, but they might have footage on their home security systems.
But how do you know who has security systems in the neighborhood?
That’s what Operation Watch Dog aims to do. The Toms River police are asking people and businesses to register with the police whether they have security cameras.
It takes two minutes to register, and it doesn’t cost anything, said Detective Mark Bajada during a recent Township Council meeting. It also doesn’t give the police automatic access to the system in any way.
What it does is let the police know that you have a security system, he said. If there is a crime committed in the area, or a missing person case, you might be called upon and asked if the police can review the footage. They would only contact you if there is something happening in your neighborhood.
More information and the registration form can be found at trpolice.org by clicking the link “Operation Watch Dog.”
Manchester is also another police department taking part in the initiative.
