Hartnell College Installs Security Cameras to Help Stall Car Thefts

Hartnell College is in the process of installing 28 security cameras in its parking garage on the Central Street campus, but stolen cars arn’t the main reason why it is installing cameras.

There are just a few students who reported property stolen from their car, or whose cars were vandalized or stolen either near Hartnell or on campus. However, the city of Salinas itself listed 1,488 cars stolen in 2013, a 36% increased from 2012, according to Salinas Police. Student Rico Finney, who loves his 1987 Brougham Caprice Classic Car and just got $300 tires, was ecstatic the security cameras went in.

“You never know. People can break into your car and steal your valuables,” said Finney.

Hartnell Facilities Director, Joe Reyes said Hartnell hasn’t had many stolen car incidents on campus, but last year two Honda Civics were stolen. The newly installed cameras were part of a larger safety plan for Hartnell.

“The college has an emergency response team of 25 people. Some of the stuff that’s been done recently over the last two years is AED’s, internal security locks, external notification, and right now we are in them process of completing the installation of the closed-caption cameras in the parking garage,” said Reyes.

There are 28 cameras costing $90,000. The cameras are strategically put on all the entrances and exits of the garage, and “they have the ability to do facial recognition and license plate recognition if we need,” said Reyes.

The cameras are only put at the entrances and exits of the parking garage, but Hartnell officials believe this will be sufficient to supply enough information to police if an incident occurs.