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© Gary Baumgarten/1010 WINSIn a program dubbed ‘Grid Search,’ police have asked businesses to turn their security cameras toward the streets to fight crime in Harlem.
Harlem Precinct Commander Says Effort Will Help Fight Rising Crime

The NYPD wants business owners to help solve crime in one Harlem precinct by turning their security cameras to the street.

As 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten reported Saturday, police believe crime has spun out of control in the 32nd Precinct, which is bounded by St. Nicholas and Bradhurst avenues on the west, 127th Street on the south, and the Harlem River on the north and east.

With that in mind, the Precinct Cmdr. Rodney Harrison has asked local businesses to help the NYPD by turning their security cameras outward in an attempt to capture crime and assist police in capturing criminals. The program has been dubbed "Grid Search."

Many nearby residents said it was a splendid idea.

"You've got a lot of these gang members out here attacking people for no reason," said one neighbor, Dwayne. "They need to just put a lot of cameras up in storefronts to lower the crime rate."

But some business owners said they fear retaliation. They also have questions about who controls the video once a crime is captured.

The New York Civil Liberties Union has also expressed concerns that the cameras could be used to spy on residents with no probably cause, according to a New York Daily News report.