More than one in five households now have a doorbell with a camera, according to analysts at Consumer Intelligence, with the most well-known brand being Amazon‘s Ring device.
These doorbells have revolutionised home security by letting occupants record and monitor who is outside their property and view it all from their phones, bringing a sense of security and relief to their owners.
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And the trend to is now helping police catch criminals and solve crimes – from brazen burglars to nightmare neighbours and even killers.
In the dead of night, the peace of a quiet residential community in Brentford, is shattered by sounds of screaming as a furious man wielding a three foot sword tries to smash his way into a young family’s home.
Up-close and framed squarely, the full face of as Firas El Hejjaji can be seen on a doorbell camera as he hammers at the door with the weapon.
The same camera later captures the moment El Hejjaji was arrested by Essex Police, he would go on to be charged with criminal damage and fined £1,500 for his actions.
This successful conviction and others are thanks in part to a new home protection trend that has seen thousands of Brits turn to the small doorbell camera devices which can be easily bought online for as little as £59.99 to protect their homes.
Commissioner Jones of Hampshire Police stressed that the data captured by doorbell cameras could be used to great effect by authorities, leading to a decrease in criminal activity and an increase in conviction rates.
She explained: ‘These kinds of devices definitely act as a deterrent.
‘I think Ring doorbells and other cameras put off criminals in the same way CCTV and alarms do. Criminals will often look for the path of least resistance and choose their targets.
‘This saves time for police forces and can help us track down suspects and speed up investigations.
‘Burglary is a horrible crime, the safest kind of neighborhoods are where we tackle the root cause but these new devices definitely contribute towards creating a safer space for everyone.’
But, despite police forces like Hampshire and the Metropolitan Police confirming they use footage to assist in their lines of enquiry – there is a school of thought that the devices may not actually deter crime.
