Ring, Inc. is a video surveillance company that offers video doorbell and security cameras with the capacity to send owners an instant alert to an electronic device when motion is detected at a residence or business. The company developed the “Ring Neighborhoods Application” which allows its users to share videos via the app to participating law enforcement agencies.
On the Department’s end, the doorbell camera platform allows the geo fencing around a location of an incident where detectives can see all the active Ring doorbell cameras within the parameters selected. An investigator can then reach out to users via e-mail to request their assistance in reviewing certain time frames in the event their camera captured the crime or incident.
The Ring solution has been modestly used by the Department as an investigative tool due to a combination of factors. First, since the adoption of the camera program Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) there has been an explosion of hardware and software available on the market that consumers can now also procure.
Secondly, from a logistical standpoint and due to the way that police reports are written, the use of the program to carry out an investigation is mentioned anecdotally as part of the narrative portion of the report. The system used by the Department does not have a systematic mechanism like a check box which can be used to run a standard report to gauge how many cases have used surveillance material from a Ring camera under the program. Therefore, this search must be conducted by hand and is not an accurate representation.
Over the past two years, the following investigations stand out as falling under the doorbell camera program:
- The Robbery squad investigated a case that ascertained that jewelry stolen was in fact owned by the victim. The case was ultimately closed by arrest.
- The Burglary squad is currently investigating an active case using footage from a Ring doorbell camera.
- One of the Major Crimes squads has used Ring doorbell footage in four specific cases. Unfortunately, there is no information regarding any subsequent prosecutions on the matter as a result of the use of the footage.