Efforts to increase video surveillance in Reading are underway.
With "All Eyes on Reading," a joint initiative between local law enforcement and the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry, officials are aiming to raise $80,000 for roughly eight high-tech, wireless cameras.
"We have been successful with these cameras in solving homicides, solving armed robberies, interrupting crimes in progress, sending cops and making an arrest," Chief Bill Heim, Reading Police Department, said Tuesday. "They're eyes and ears of the police."
Currently, 46 video surveillance cameras are scattered across the city. The new cameras, however, will be solely installed downtown.
"We want our region, we want Berks County, to be seen as a vibrant, economic hub," said Ellen Horan, the chamber's president, "and the state of our downtown is absolutely critical to that. Our crime statistics have been improving, but people perceive the downtown not to be safe, and I think when they see the business community working with the police chief, they see the cameras, they'll feel more safe and they'll come downtown more often. That's our hope."
As for where, exactly, the new cameras will be placed downtown remains unknown. Officials said it takes research.
"We're gonna strategize a little bit and determine the number of cameras that we're gonna get from the funding and then, like we usually do, we check with the police officers, we check with our crime mapping, we check high-traffic areas," Heim said.
Already, $20,000 has been raised toward the goal, donated in part by the chamber, the Greater Reading Economic Partnership and the Wyomissing Foundation.
Horan said she expects to solicit the remaining goal amount within the next couple of months, from both businesses and citizens.
Sai Vuyyuru, owner of Berks Discount Pharmacy on Penn Square, told 69 News he would be interested in donating.
"I think it's a good idea," said Vuyyuru. "I think it makes everyone safe."
Once the money is raised, Heim said it could take several months for the cameras to be installed.
Anyone interested in donating toward the cameras can do so on the "All Eyes on Reading" GoFundMe site.
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