WICHITA — You’d better watch out, you’d not better cry, you’d better not pout, I’m telling you why – the mall guard is watching you with his camera eye. There aren’t many statistics about how effective surveillance cameras are but cities, businesses and schools across the country are installing them by the thousands. Wichita State University criminologist Paul Cromwell said the cameras may not be what they’re cracked up to be. Statistics are showing that the cameras aren’t have the deterrent effect on crime than was originally thought. However, the security cameras are proving useful in solving many types of crimes, he said. The recordings by the camera are stored and after crimes, police review the tapes and pickup many useful clues, he said. The biggest issue has been about privacy concerns, he said. He said although courts have ruled there’s no right to privacy in public places many groups are trying to limit security cameras’ use.
