By Saleh Al-Shehhi
There is a funny video clip in which a group of young men try to rob a Diwaniya in Kuwait. As one of them gets out of the car, he notices a CCTV camera in front of the Diwaniya. He salutes it, as if to say to the owner, “Please excuse us.” The young men then decide not to proceed with the robbery and leave.
Some time ago, people shared a video of a robbery that took place in front of a cash machine. When the thief noticed a CCTV camera, he saluted the camera as if to apologize and express remorse.
Of course, I realize that CCTV cameras do not deter hardened criminals who have crime written into their DNA. Recently, a camera in a bank picked up the robbery and murder of a person. The man committed the crime without fear even though he was being recorded. However, CCTV cameras do limit crimes and discourage thieves. I read a newspaper story in which a thief said he avoided robbing buildings that were monitored with cameras.
A schoolgirl in Riyadh recently went missing in front of her school. The details of the story and the photographs were painful. However, they raise an important question: Why didn’t the school have CCTV cameras? If there had been cameras, then the kidnapper might not have been able to abduct the girl. If his face had not been clear in the recording, then the authorities could at least have identified him through clues like his clothing or car.
I urge Minister of Education Dr. Ahmed Al-Issa to oblige each school to place CCTV cameras on their outer doors and walls. Putting up cameras is a positive step to enhance safety and security. I understand that there are 18,000 CCTV cameras in Makkah.
When criminals realize that schools and kindergartens are being monitored, they will not commit crimes of any kind. If they do, then they will be quickly apprehended. Cameras, Dr. Al-Issa, are your eyes and the eyes of our law enforcers.
