ALLEN PARK, Mich. – A serial rape suspect was caught Wednesday thanks in part to an alert homeowner with a surveillance camera. The woman saw a suspicious man, checked the tape, gave it to police and it led to an arrest.
Now, police in Allen Park are hoping that type of thinking can solve a lot more crimes. They're trying to make it happen by picking up the "Extra Eyes" program.
When a burglar cases an empty house, a homeowner can be helpless. But in Allen Park, the Extra Eyes program is catching crooks and catching on.
The program registers who has cameras, not having access to the video without permission.
"We're not big brother," said Det. Jim Thorburn, of the Allen Park Police Department. "A lot of concerns of safety issues and privacy concerns. We will never have access to your cameras. We don't want access to your cameras, no way."
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The first person to sign up was Steve Randazzo. He signed up the same day his house was robbed.
"He walked up, looking at this camera, looked right at it, came over, jumped on our air conditioner and got in through this window here," Randazzo said.
With picture perfect video, Thorburn posted it on the Allen Park Facebook page.
"Within eight minutes, I had a phone call," Throburn said. "'I know who it is.' 'Well, how do you know?' 'It's my brother. Hes wearing my coat, and he went to a pawn shop.' 'He did? Which one?' Go to the pawn shop, pull the video. There he is with the stuff. Same day after he broke in."
"I sincerely believe if we didn't have that information, this would've never been solved," Randazzo said.
That type of success has Randazzo hoping others get on board to provide extra eyes watching out for the community.
"Your neighbors, friends of yours, anything that would help," Randazzo said. "It's a great pride for anything that would help the police and not just hand them a piece of blank paper and hope for the best."
People get a sticker, and the idea is that will also help deter criminals.