Little did he know his home security cameras would record footage of a vehicle burglary across the street, and with his help, police arrested two people for the crime.

"I tend to mind my own business and leave people alone unless they're out there causing trouble and doing things they shouldn't be doing," said Russell of 6213 S. Adams St.

The cameras, which Russell got at Computer Deli in Peoria for about $200 apiece, also put a stop to the ongoing headaches he was having with neighborhood vandals.

"I knew who was doing it, but there was nothing (police) could do. They needed proof," Russell said. "If you can't prove it or didn't see it happen, as a police officer they can't do anything. They can take a police report, but that doesn't replace your broken window.

Russell didn't waste any time installing the cameras. He wanted to catch - red-handed - the people responsible for encroaching on his property.

He positioned the cameras, which are motion sensitive and infrared, meaning they can detect objects at night, on the corner of the house. They are positioned to record goings-on of the street in front of his house and driveway, the two spots where he parks his cars.

To see what is happening outside, Russell, with a click of his computer's mouse, can check the feed from the cameras on his computer monitor in the family room of his house whenever it's convenient for him. Along with the cameras, he bought a $100 video capture card that allows him to store the footage on his hard-drive.

Hansen had parked his car in front of his house, when about 1 a.m., someone shattered the rear window and stole his subwoofers and amplifier from the back seat.

The recording showed two males in an early 1990s white Ford Escort two-door pull up in front of Hansen's house with the lights shut off. They got out of the car, removed a large box - the stereo equipment - from the back of Hansen's car and drove away.

Since police couldn't determine who the thieves were they instead focused their attention on the car. The Escort was missing its right front hubcap and right rear brake light. There also appeared to be damage to the passenger side of the vehicle.

With that information, police combed the Limestone Community High School parking lot looking for the car that matched the one in the video. They found it, and after interviewing the driver and his friend, police had two confessions for the burglary.

"We probably wouldn't have been able to solve it without that (home security tape)," Bartonville Police Chief Brian Fengel said recently. "It allowed us to take the video and compare it to suspects we thought did it."

Fengel said cameras like Russell's are effective crime-fighting tools because they can deter crime and record evidence of criminal activity that later can be useful in court proceedings.

Police recovered Hansen's amp, but his speakers had been dumped into the Illinois River. Hansen was paid restitution for the speakers and broken window, altogether about $1,000, from the burglars.

"If it wasn't for his cameras, we would have never caught them," Hansen said this week of Russell's surveillance system. "I think the cameras are a really good thing. He did everything he could to help us. Not everybody out there takes the time to do that for somebody."

Russell isn't the only person to invest in home security equipment. Local computer and security equipment stores say sales have grown tremendously over the years.

"To be honest, we've been selling them (security cameras) for quite a few years and there's still a demand for it," said Zach Davis, a computer technician at Computer Deli, 4615 N. Sheridan Road.

Davis himself set up a laptop web camera inside his apartment to record the doings of his landlord. The camera points at the front door, allowing him to see exactly whose coming and going from his apartment.

"There's a part on my lease that says they're allowed to come in and look around," Davis, 19, of Peoria said. "I don't have anything to hide. I just don't want the landlords coming in whenever they want."

"When I catch them, I ask them what they're doing," said Davis, declining to name the apartment he lives in. "There's no rule that says I can't monitor my own place. I want them to know I'm also watching them."

Other reasons people resort to self-installation of surveillance equipment is to keep an eye on baby-sitters, hired cleaning personnel or a roommate. The hidden cameras can capture evidence of the crime taking place, which can later be used as evidence to show for legal or insurance purposes.

"Video (surveillance) is one of the fastest growing security technologies today," said Ron Riggins, owner of Cops Inc Security Solutions, 3318 N. University St., Peoria. "It's very popular. . . . The growth has been tremendous."

One product Cops Inc carries is wireless and sends signals to the consumer's home computer. It can also be set up to notify an individual by e-mail or picture message to a cell phone of an incident.

"If people have some decent computer skills, the software is included with the camera," Riggins said. "It's a matter of installing the software and an adaptor on the computer. The cameras are plug and play."

Startup of home security surveillance system can cost as little as $300, Riggins said, adding it takes between 30 to 40 minutes to install the equipment before it's ready to use.

"Anyone who wants to know what's going on while they're asleep or while they're away at work can benefit from it," Russell said. "It's like a spare tire. You hope you never have to use, but it's there if you need it."

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