Roslyn Estates mulls camera proposal

Dan Offner

Roslyn Estates officials are considering installing up to 10 video cameras at intersections around the village at an estimated cost of $140,000 to $180,000. 

“We have been looking into the cost of placing cameras,” Mayor Paul Leone Peters said on Monday night at the Board of Trustees meeting. “They’re not license plate readers, but you would be able to read the license plates of the car manually. Visually.” 

The proposal follows two burglaries in the area, which occurred late last year while the homeowners were away. Since then, Nassau County police have arrested three Chilean nationals, who have been suspected of participating in a recent spree of burglaries across the North Shore.

“I think that opens up a privacy issue,” said village Trustee Brett Auerbach, who suggested that additional signs may be deterrent enough. 

His suggestion followed a recent presentation by Deputy Inspector Harun Begis of the Nassau County Police Department’s 6th Precinct, where a number of other more cost-effective strategies were proposed, including a residential sticker system as well as signs alerting passers-by that they are under 24-hour surveillance. 

“I think if people want to rob your house they are going to rob your house. They’re not going to be deterred by a sign,” said village Trustee Steve Fox. “We shouldn’t consider that the sky is falling because we had coincidentally two events happen in a short period of time when it has been literally years since we’ve had anything and if we put it into perspective we’re one of the safest neighborhoods around.” 

“I think the cameras are a good idea,” said Trustee Georgeann Polatov. “You can try [the signs], but I tend to agree with what Steve says.”

If approved by the Board of Trustees, the project would include the cost of electrical work  at each pole as well as the cost of Optimum WiFi service. The video feed from the cameras would go to the village.

Village Clerk-Treasurer Michael P. Tomicich said that representatives with the camera installation company will attend the next public meeting on Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. to continue the discussion.

In an effort to help police identify suspicious vehicles, the village will mail out reflective parking stickers with its monthly newsletter for residents to place on the back of their vehicles. The stickers are not a requirement and are available to any resident to pick up at the village offices at 25 The Tulips in Roslyn Estates.

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