IRMO, S.C. — Safety concerns in an Irmo neighborhood will soon be addressed by adding new technology that will help to keep an eye on things.
A series of car break ins and burglaries over the summer months in Irmo's Beacon Hill neighborhood, located off of Columbiana Drive, has led the town of Irmo and the police department to offer solutions.
"During the most peak time frame, they would have an incident every day, if not two incidents for a few weeks," Bobby Dale, Irmo police chief said.
New town mayor Bill Danielson says right now the town is gearing up to receive and install five cameras, which will be placed in strategic locations within the neighborhood at a cost of about $55,000.
The first one, he explains, will be installed at the bottom of the Crown Point Court cul-de-sac.
The mayor says at the start of the Harbison Trail on a light pole is where they hope to attach the first camera.
Chief Dale explains the cameras will not produce a live feed, and the documentation will delete itself after 30 days unless flagged for investigative purposes.
"First of all, as a deterrent, but second of all, to help us if we need to investigate something that happens in that area," Dale said.
The Irmo police department adds they have helped the town identify specific locations for the cameras so as not to overlap into another jurisdiction.
Mayor Danielson explains this process has taken a long while because of logistics.
"We were hoping we could attach these cameras to existing poles that were owned and operated by Dominion. That has not happened," Danielson said.
But he explains that he's learned Wednesday Dominion is working with their legal team to set up possible agreements. The mayor says locals should notice the first camera in the next few weeks.
This is a public safety pilot program, the mayor adds. So the town will see how it goes, and cameras may be possible for other areas based on need and how effective they are found to be through this current program.