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Many Pittsburgh surveillance cameras blind to crime

PITTSBURGH — A Target 11 investigation has uncovered that a network of surveillance cameras in Pittsburgh may not be that reliable.

With the help of a $3.7 million federal grant, Pittsburgh began installing the cameras five years ago.

Today there are 153 cameras.

But those cameras did not help find the driver who struck Harry Smith and took off.

“I was going to work on Mother’s Day and I crossed the street when I got hit. I flipped over the hood of the car,” he told investigator Rick Earle.

Target 11 learned the city surveillance camera on the Warrington Rec Center was not working at the time.

Smith suffered four broken ribs, a busted eye socket and had stitches in his mouth.

Nearly a year later, he has recovered but the case remains unsolved.

His brother is frustrated that the camera didn’t capture the crime.

“If they're there, they should be working.  We paid our tax dollars for them.  Why are they not working?,” Gene Smith said.

Another camera just down the street missed the action too.

Target 11 learned it was pointed straight down at the sidewalk.

Earle filed a Right To Know Request with the Pittsburgh Police asking for information about the camera system last fall.

At the time, all the city would tell Target 11 is that 8 cameras were not working.

Law enforcement sources tell Target 11 that the system has been plagued with problems.

Some of the cameras simply aren’t working.

Others have been blown off course by the wind, and there have been problems retrieving video and connecting to the network.

Councilwoman Darlene Harris said, “That concerns me greatly.”

She is worried because Pittsburgh had 71 murders last year, 35 percent more than in 2013.

“That is technology that is a tool that helps out in a number of situations,” Harris said.

Now Target 11 has uncovered a brand new plan to upgrade and improve the system.

The administration just hired a company in January that guarantees 95 percent of the cameras up and running at all times.

“That 5 percent isn't great and it's something we are working on, but most of the cameras have been a great help to law enforcement,” said city spokesman Tim McNulty.

WPXI

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