EXCLUSIVE: Record number of crimes caught on doorbell cams in Leicester and Rutland last year

Over 500 offences have been recorded on doorbell cams in the past 5 years

Author: Ellis MaddisonPublished 26th Jun 2023
Last updated 26th Jun 2023

We can exclusively reveal the number of crimes being caught on doorbell cameras in Leicestershire and Rutland are increasing year-on-year.

Figures obtained by us through a freedom of information request sent to Leicestershire Police, show 179 offences were captured on doorbell cameras last year alone.

Nearly 100 crimes have been recorded via the technology already this year, with theft, vehicle interference and criminal damage the most common.

See a breakdown of how many crimes were recorded on doorbell cameras:

2023 (up until the end of May): 92
2022: 179
2021: 140
2020: 78
2019: 31
2018: 9
2017: 1

What crimes are being caught?

Since 2017, theft (96) was the most common crime caught on doorbell cameras, followed by criminal damage (76) and vehicle interference (70).

There were 65 instances of attempted residential burglary also recorded across Leicestershire and Rutland.

9 cases of assault and more than 50 public order offences were also filmed during that time period.

In total, there's been 530 crimes seen through doorbell camera footage.

'Burglaries have reduced significantly'

Despite more crimes being picked up through doorbell cams, reports of burglaries across Leicestershire and Rutland are down on recent years.

That's according to Detective Inspector Kev Hames, who's the burglary lead for Leicestershire Police:

'They can be used for all types of offences. Domestic abuse investigations for example, where we're trying to put an offender at a scene or where we try to identify somebody responsible.'

'One of my friends, who was recently subject to a burglary, she's had a doorbell camera installed, so that every time somebody enters her driveway - they get an alert.'

He added: 'Looking at the figures, burglaries have reduced significantly over the last couple of years. I would recommend all householders to get them. Not only does it reduce the chance of being a victim of crime, it's also a really good deterrent.'

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