When a crime is reported, time is of the essence for law enforcement officials when it comes to tracking down the perpetrator.

Lansford Police are implementing a new security camera database, dubbed Lansford United, in order to quickly tap into video footage from the area of an incident.

Local residents and business owners can now register their personal security cameras with the police department, allowing investigators to quickly search who may have captured images that could help them identity and track down a suspect.

“A lot of people are putting up their own security cameras and they understand that they can record stuff that’s in the public view and it can be used to aid us in cases,” said Lansford Sgt. Shawn Nunemacher. “We started tossing around the idea a couple months ago, before the previous chief left, about how we could get the residents who have cameras on a list so we know what cameras are on each block.”

Anyone wishing to register their cameras with the department can pick up forms at the police station, 1 W. Ridge St., or at the Lansford Borough office.

Nunemacher said video footage is some of the most crucial evidence a police department can obtain during an investigation.

“It shows us what is going on, so we knew if we could get a list of already existing cameras, it would cut down on the time we have to go out and canvass neighborhoods to determine where footage might exist,” Nunemacher said. “Now, we can just check the registry and if a crime happened in the 300-block of a certain street, we know who has cameras there and what direction they are facing.”

If police do not have to walk a block to see where cameras exist, it could cut 15-20 minutes off an investigation right from the start, Nunemacher estimated.

“Every second counts,” he said. “Sometimes people put up a camera that isn’t even operating, but they want it there as a deterrent, so we’d still have to go knock on that door and find out if it’s a functional camera or not. That is valuable time we could save now.”

When police turn to camera footage to help identify a suspect, more often than not, Nunemacher said, it proves successful.

“If we get a picture of someone, we can usually find them,” he said. “More often than not, someone knows them.”

Several Lansford residents have already approached police with their interest in the security camera registry. Nunemacher said through media promotion and word-of-mouth, he is hoping for a successful program launch.

“It would be great if it took off like wildfire,” he said. “We have a lot of residents who want to do anything they can to help cut down on crime and this is just another step in that direction.”