The Lancaster Community Safety Coalition says on its website that surveillance cameras deter crime. Apparently, the Coalition believes that criminals will not commit a crime within the sight of a camera. Recent events disprove that theory.

Within a 3-day period recently, three serious crimes were committed on city streets. Each of these crimes took place less than a block away from a surveillance camera. These crimes occurred in totally different areas of the city.

On Sept. 10, a woman was robbed at knifepoint in the 200 block of W. James St. There is an LCSC camera at the beginning of that block at W. James/N. Mulberry. An F&M camera is at the end of that block at W. James/N. Charlotte.

That same day, a man was robbed and assaulted on E. Filbert St. near St. Joseph St, which runs between W. Vine and Poplar Sts. There is an LCSC camera where E. Filbert St. intersections with W. Vine St.  There is another camera where E. Filbert St. intersects with Poplar St.

On Sept. 8, there was a robbery of a woman at gunpoint in the 100 block of S. Ann St. There is an LCSC camera at the intersection of S. Ann/E. End Ave., which is the beginning of the 100 block of S. Ann St. There is another camera at the next intersection, at S. Ann/New Dauphin St.

Last month, two murders were committed on the same day near the intersection of E. Orange and N. Plum Sts., where an LCSC camera is located.

The money being spent on this costly program would be better spent on proven crime-reducing programs. These include a greater police presence (on foot, bikes or horses), neighborhood policing, block watch groups, personal safety programs and the improvement of blighted neighborhoods.