Thorn in the side of Surrey criminals

Launched following a successful pilot in May 2023, the Suspicious Activity Portal is making its mark as a thorn in the side of Surrey criminals.

The portal was created as a platform for Surrey residents to submit their CCTV or smart doorbell footage in relation to burglary or any wider serious acquisitive crime.

When in July this year, an Epsom resident noticed their car door was open, they checked their doorbell footage and were confronted with the sight of a male suspect trying to open the car doors and then getting inside the vehicle. The same suspect was then captured on the camera trying other car doors on the street.

The quick-thinking victim uploaded their footage to the portal which was then shared with the Proactive CID team who were able to identify the suspect.

It turned out that the same suspect was already wanted by police for failing to appear in court for an unrelated offence. It was discovered that he had left Surrey but was soon arrested at his new home by Devon and Cornwall police. He pled guilty to the offence of Vehicle Interference and has been bailed with conditions to not enter Epsom until November this year.

Detective Inspector Antony Preston said: “This incident shows the potential the Suspicious Activity Portal has to identify suspects in hotspot areas. Without this vital bit of information, we would not have been able to identify the suspect.”

The Suspicious Activity Portal can be accessed via the Surrey Police website Suspicious Activity Portal | Surrey Police