Mountain Brook Promotes Purchase Of RING-Style Doorbell Cameras

MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL - The City of Mountain Brook announced Tuesday it will become the first city in the nation to promote city-wide residential purchase and installation of RING-style security doorbells cameras. These doorbell camera systems have the ability, through an app, to connect directly with police allowing them to more quickly and effectively fight door-to-door types of crimes.

RING-style security doorbell cameras can send alerts to residents if someone walks in front of the device or rings the doorbell, even if the resident is not home. It also allows the resident to speak directly to someone at the door from a remote location, giving the impression that the resident is home even if they are on vacation.

"The RING ‘Neighbors’ app allows us to not only positively identify a potential criminal through video, but in some cases, we can track criminal movement through a neighborhood," said Mountain Brook Police Chief Ted Cook. "The ‘Neighbors’ app effectively creates a digital Neighborhood Watch."

To jump-start this program, the city coordinated with Frank Davies of Little Hardware on Cahaba Road in English Village. "Little Hardware will have products available for purchase and can provide installers to assist with installation if necessary," said Mayor Stewart Welch. "This highly effective product costs less than $200. I own one and it provides a great sense of security."

"If we can get city-wide adoption of these systems it will deter crime as criminals learn the security systems are wide-spread within our community," Cook added. "It will just be less risky to go somewhere else."