Stewart Manor adds 9 security cameras

The theft of a drawing and planters has led the Village of Stewart Manor to install nine security cameras at the entrances of Village Hall, inside the courthouse and around the adjacent parking area.

The $29,361 camera system is to be installed Monday. It will be able to store 30 days of recordings with enhanced facial recognition technology. Village officials will be able to monitor the area viewed by the cameras via the Internet.

An $8,000 grant from the Justice Court Assistance Program paid for part of the surveillance system, with the rest funded by a $50,000 grant from the New York State Dormitory Authority, officials said at Tuesday's board meeting. The system will replace four old cameras that had "limited memory" capabilities, officials said.

"The cameras would improve security inside Village Hall, the court and outside of the building," said Mayor James J. Kelly. "Security is an area we want to improve on."

Officials and residents have been on edge since an ink drawing of the Stewart Manor Country Club was stolen from inside Village Hall on June 1 and three planters were taken from locations along Covert Avenue near Village Hall at the end of May.

Two commercial break-ins in March and three burglaries on Covert Avenue in April have also added to residents' safety concerns.

Board members, reacting to a resident's suggestion that the village install traffic-monitoring security cameras, said they would look into the possibility of installing a system like one under way in Kings Point.