Surveillance

martinsburg@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.VA. - Police have released a photograph of the man who robbed another man at gunpoint Wednesday and drove the man to a bank, where he used the victim's ATM card to withdraw money, Martinsburg Police Department Detective Sgt. George Swartwood said. The photograph was taken by a surveillance camera on the bank's ATM, Swartwood said. He would not say exactly how much money was withdrawn from the machine, but described it as a "minimal" amount.

Normally, I am strongly opposed to the use of cop surveillance cameras on public streets, but it's hard to get too worked up over the Hagerstown Police Department's announcement that it will install up to 14 videocams downtown. It's hard to get worked up because it will affect such a tiny number of residents. In fact, at any given time, cameras probably will outnumber shoppers 2-1. Might get some nice shots of the tumbleweed blowing down city streets, however. Only in Hagerstown would shopping be regarded as a suspicious activity.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Franklin County will use $25,000 in grant money to upgrade surveillance and radio equipment for the county Drug Task Force. This is the first time the county has requested a share of the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant money that Chambersburg receives annually from the state, said Kelly Livermore, assistant county administrator. The county will use $4,000 for a repeater with a rechargeable batter and an antenna to enhance existing equipment the task force detectives use to conduct surveillance during investigations into illegal drug activity, said Assistant District Attorney Angela Krom, whose office oversees the task force.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. ? Authorities believe they have solved the Christmas Eve 2002 theft of about $56,800 in cash, checks and food stamps from Weis Market in Martinsburg, thanks to an e-mailed, anonymous tip received last month. Former store employees Jason Wayne Butts, 27, of 542 Mesquite Lane, and Robert James Suchman, 54, of 740 Boy Scout Road, both were arraigned Thursday on charges of grand larceny and breaking and entering by Berkeley County Magistrate Jim Humphrey, according to court records.

By KERRY LYNN FRALEY Staff Writer Brian Hamberger already had a surveillance system in his Potomac Avenue 7-Eleven store when The Southland Corporation installed a new high-tech system about two years ago. Instead of scrapping his cruder black-and-white system, Hamberger said he decided to use it to expand video coverage to other areas of his store. It has helped him catch a few shoplifters, he said. But that's just a bonus on top of the deterrent and security benefits provided by the newer surveillance and alarm system, which gives employees a one-touch link to police agencies and provides a record of activity in the store, Hamberger said.