The old biblical warning was about the thief coming in the night. Today even the cover of darkness doesn’t seem to work.

Last week’s evening news had an article about a theft in Lincoln that with my jaded sense of humor I found amusing.

Every year the courthouse in Lincoln is decorated with numerous Christmas trees around its perimeter. The trees can be very ornate and involved in their decorations. The trees commemorate the season, with mention of businesses and deceased family members. It is a rather large event that the public in Lincoln has become very attached to.

Unfortunately someone decided they wanted to take one of the trees with them at 3 a.m. one night last week. This is the dead of night and no one should be watching, SAVE  the 24 hour courthouse video surveillance. The video shows the car stopping and the individuals getting out and simply taking the tree. Mr. Thief you are on candid camera and the police love these modern home videos.

It is awfully hard to assert one’s innocence if the video is playing in that courtroom.

I’m old school and believe you shouldn’t have to know that you are being watched before not choosing to take something of somebody else’s. If it is not yours, don’t touch was the rule my mother always taught.

Today video surveillance is everywhere, from door bells to whole business interiors and exteriors.  I am very familiar with the security systems at both the DeWitt and Logan County courthouses. You are on video from the time you get out of your car,  while you are in the courthouse and until you return to your car. I should add the lenses on the cameras are very good. You will be recognized by someone should you create a problem. Likewise, most of the local businesses have video throughout the business.

It is sad that businesses and governmental organizations have to incur the expense of videos, but they are cost effective. People see that cone or box on the ceiling and know that they are being watched. It works. We are not California where the offender in many cities knows he can get away with the crime, this is central Illinois and crime is still a crime.

Years ago when the police had just started using video cameras in their squad cars I represented an attractive and very professionally dressed lady on a DUI charge in Sangamon County. She made a very good impression in the courtroom on our first appearance and I thought this case may turn out better than the police reports indicated.

Alas there was that video footage from the squad car. That video showed a very disheveled and very intoxicated lady. We were only seconds into viewing the video when she looked at me and said, “Get me a plea agreement”. The video said it all and she clearly understood that a jury would not view that evidence as beneficial to her.

This month hotel security cameras filmed the murder of an insurance executive entering the Hilton hotel in New York.  Other security cameras filmed the alleged offender at other areas nearby. Those videos assisted the police in ascertaining who the suspect was and led to his arrest.

Video is everywhere. Part of me has some concerns for individual privacy. Those concerns are overridden by the knowledge  that surveillance does provide additional safety for all in this country.